LONG gone are the days of sausage and mash or turkey twizzlers, as Hampshire youngsters are set to get Masterchef-esque meals for their school dinners.

Launched by county council food provider HC3S, Spanish- and Greek-inspired dishes top the new-look menu for secondary school kids.

School cooks will need to be on their best form to produce the European- and international-influenced food, as students will be out to judge their favourites.

Prepared from scratch using local and seasonal produce, new meals will include Spanish-inspired patatas bravas and Greek-inspired Spanakopita (a spinach tart) or moussaka - a long way from the square pizzas and artic roles of school meals-past.

Mains also include "classic dishes" such as roast dinners, macaroni cheese, and lightly baked fish and chips, but these will be offered alongside new dishes such as pulled pork burrito that comes with a smoky sauce, a fish finger taco with a lime mayo, pizza yorkie (a giant Yorkshire pudding), open bagel and other exciting street options.

Not a meat-eater? No problem. New vegetarian dishes are available, including Thai green curry or a chickpea and aubergine tagine, combining superfood butternut squash sweetened with cinnamon and partnered with a jewelled couscous.

Speaking about its new menu, the council said: “Our school meals provider HC3S is expanding its menu to accommodate changing tastes on the high street, appealing to older children by reflecting what they might eat when out and about with friends and family, while keeping popular plates

“The international menu means students can continue to enjoy a wide variety of choice for their school lunch and ‘taste’ flavours from around the world.”