A care home cook is celebrating after securing the chef of the year gong at a regional award ceremony.

Well-loved Spring Lodge Care Home's chef, Andy Gray, said he was delighted with the big win.

The Woolverstone-based care home worker attained the honour in Kingsley Healthcare's 25th Anniversary Regional Care Awards.

Cherished by both residents and staff, Mr Gray's 20-year tenure at the home south of Ipswich has been marked by his consistent production of delicious, well-presented meals.

He said the award gave him "an immense amount of pride to see residents enjoying their meal.."

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The event, held at Ivy House Country Hotel in Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, crowned Mr Gray as Suffolk's top chef, beating Patricia Stephen of The Depperhaugh nursing home and Andrea Long of Hadleigh Nursing Home.

Expressing appreciation, colleagues labelled Mr Gray "a lovely guy with a very big heart".

Mr Gray, also the victor of Kingsley’s National Care Awards in 2017, said: “I believe everyone deserves a nutritional, tasty plate of food that looks well presented."

Renowned for going the extra mile, Mr Gray said he stays committed to creating an engaging menu, celebrating special moments with magnificent cakes and catering for those with special dietary needs.