There are various ways in which home cooks can use up all the leftovers from the festive season, a top chef has said.

In many cases, people will throw away food that can otherwise be used in a recipe, explained Tom Kitchin in an article for Scotland on Sunday.

Planning ahead for meals is a great way to ensure they get used up, with people needing to think carefully about the ingredients they have to hand, he noted.

Omelette is a great, cheap way of making the most of vegetables, meats and even fish that may not be good for much else, Mr Kitchin emphasised.

Cheeses are one of the most common leftovers, he suggested, so there is simply no better way of using them up than in a simple omelette, he added.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service recently called on home cooks to make sure they are on the ball in the kitchen over the Christmas period to avoid accidents.