OXFORDSHIRE's number one Spam fan Phil Schofield is hoping his signature dish Spambalaya will win him a trip to the birthplace of his favourite meat in a can.

Keen cook Mr Schofield, 51, from Roke, near Benson, has been chosen to represent the South West in the UK's first Spam Cook of the Year competition.

On June 18, he will travel to London for the contest's grand final, where Spambalaya - his take on the American dish Jambalaya - will be tasted by a special judging panel.

And if it wins, he'll scoop a trip to Minnesota USA, the home of Spam and the world famous Spam Museum.

Shop worker and father-of-two Mr Schofield said: "It's a fabulous prize and it would be great to win, although my partner Bev probably won't be as excited as me about visiting the Spam Museum - I've been trying to get her and the children to eat Spam for as long as I can remember but they don't share my enthusiasm for it."

Mr Schofield has been a Spam fan since he was a child.

He said: "We used to eat it fried with eggs and in sandwiches, and I carried on loving it into adulthood."

A few years ago his children Sam, 19 and Leah, 22, enrolled him into the UK Spam Fan Club.

He said: "I knew about the contest to find the best Spam recipe but I wasn't going to enter.

"Then a couple of months ago I made Jambalaya for the family and thought it would be good to swap the chorizo sausage for Spam.

"I tried it out on Bev and her children James and Zoe, and they liked it, so I sent it in.

"I was surprised but thrilled my recipe was chosen to represent the South West as a whole.

"I just hope I do the region proud - and bring the Spam trophy back to Oxfordshire."

To sign up to the Spam Fan Club see website www.spam-uk.com

Phil's recipe for Spambalaya

INGREDIENTS

  • One tin of Spam with Garlic (diced)
  • Two chicken breasts (diced)
  • 150g cooked and peeled prawns
  • Two sticks of celery (chopped)
  • Two chopped Bell peppers (any colour)
  • Two chopped red onions
  • 150g long grain rice
  • One pint of chicken stock
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Over a medium heat fry the Spam and chicken in a little oil until they brown. Add the celery, peppers and onion and continue to fry for two minutes. Stir in the rice and and cayenne pepper (to taste.) Add the stock (plus extra water, if required, to just cover the ingredients). Increase the heat and boil for ten minutes then cover the frying pan and turn off the heat. Allow about ten minutes for most of the liquid to be absorbed then stir in the prawns. Re-cover for one minute and then serve.