A VEGAN has had the honour of having her recipes cooked by a celebrity animal rights and charity campaigner after winning a national competition.

Sally Taylor of Church Lane, Manby created an inspiring and original three-course meal as part of a competition by campaigning vegetarian and vegan group – Vegetarians International Voice For Animals (Viva)

As the winner, Sally and her family were special guests at VBites restaurant in Brighton which is owned by campaigner and Viva Patron Heather Mills.

Her winning menu of courgette fritters with a balsamic pesto sauce; leek and sun-dried tomato timbales served with a fresh tomato sauce, followed by Turkish delightful chocolate cream pie was cooked and served at the restaurant.

Sally, who is a member of Louth Vegetarian Group, said: "I was just so completely shocked to have won.

"I do a lot of cooking for friends, family and Louth vegetarian and art groups.

"I felt absolutely over the moon, especially as it was for my favourite charity, Viva.

"It was just such a brilliant experience to meet some of the Viva team and, of course, Heather Mills."

The Viva's Fruity Fundays cookery competition aimed to encourage people to eat vegetarian or vegan as many times a week as they can.

Sally's recipes will also be published in Viva's national magazine called Viva Life.

Juliet Gellatley, Viva founder and director who was also one of the judges, said: "We were very impressed with Sally's recipes and the effort she went to in creating them.

"The starter in particular, was very fresh and tasty.

"Congratulations to her for creating the very best Fruity Fundays recipes."

Heather Mills also commended Sally's menu.

She said: "My family loved Sally's recipes.

"The Courgette Fritters tasted like an egg omelette and were so simple to cook.

"We all had a great night."