THE search is on for Cumbria's next baking star.

Kendal College has teamed up with one of the county's bakers to launch a competition to find the next young Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood.

Hoping to inspire a new generation of future bakers and food industry professionals, the Great Cumbrian Bake Off is open to schools around the Penrith area.

“There’s been a real renewed interest in baking recently thanks mainly to popular TV shows like the Great British Bake Off and Masterchef," said Robert Marshall-Slater, head of Culinary Arts at Kendal College. "This competition offers a great opportunity to build on this new-found fascination for baking and to inform young students about the ways in which they can enter into the world of professional bakery and explore baking as a life skill.”

Open to pupils aged from 12 to 16, Kendal College and baker Bells of Lazonby are encouraging schools to hold their own bake-offs to cherry pick only the best for the grand final at the college next month.

Students will be expected to prepare, cook and decorate a brownie or sponge cake of their choice within a one-hour time frame.

A judging panel made up of a selection of culinary experts will award marks based on technical skill, flair and imagination, hygiene, safe working methods, and overall consistency.

On the panel will be a tasting team from Lazenby baker Bells who run an apprenticeship programme with the college.

“Most students who study food related subjects tend to think of the restaurant or hospitality field," said Bells operation director Philip Callaghan. "We want to stimulate an interest in bakery and hope to encourage them to look at career options with us."

Participating schools need to register by Tuesday (January 20) and the final will take place on February 26.

The winning school will receive a cheque for £250 and a delivery of core baking ingredients.

For more information call 01539 814700 or visit www.kendal.ac.uk