SOUTH Trafford College's restaurant, Aspire, has scooped a top regional prize.

It has won the northern regional finals in the prestigious college restaurant of the year competition, organised by industry publication, Restaurant Magazine.

Beating 18 other northern colleges, Aspire's title of northern college restaurant of the year has earned it a place in the national finals.

The award comes just five months after opening in a new hospitality and tourism building at the college, on Manchester Road, West Timperley. It reinforces the department's recipe for success following a Government CoVE award as a centre of vocational excellence.

Kay Johnson, South Trafford College's hospitality section manager, said: "All the staff and students are delighted with the award and it is thanks to their passion and commitment that we are the winning college restaurant in the north.

This award is a great achievement for the new Aspire restaurant bar and we are all hoping that we have the winning ingredients for the national finals."

The finals will be held next month when South Trafford will be competing against four other colleges for the prestigious title of college restaurant of the year.