A Pembrokeshire chef will be cooking up a regal storm when he swaps the Welsh weather for far sunnier climes in Jordan.

Steve Lawton has owned and cooked at his successful St Davids' restaurant, Lawton's at No. 16, for the last five years, but is now heading to the private palace of King Abdulla and Queen Rania in Amman.

For the next two years, Steve will be the executive chef to the king and queen of Jordan, preparing meals for the couple and their four children, as well as overseeing some of the state banquets at their other palaces.

Steve, said: "I am very pleased to get this job, it is a fantastic opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it.

"There are huge, brand new kitchens and food is flown in from all over the world - they expect the best of everything. There is pressure to make sure everything is the best quality and that they like everything, but they are very down to earth and pleasant, they are used to international styles of food."

Pembrokeshire produce may also make it onto the menu at the palace.

"I cooked some fish dishes for them, and the kids particularly liked my roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.

"We might well be flying in Pembrokeshire fish and hopefully local beef and lamb, they are very much into organic there," Steve explained.

The whole Lawton family will also make the move to Jordan, with wife Kim and daughter Emily, aged eight, set to join Steve permanently before the new school year.

"The first ten weeks are going to be hard, I'm going to miss the girls.

"I will be looking forward to getting back together in September and settle down out there.

"It will be great for Emily to see a bit more of the world before starting senior school and she is very excited," added Steve.