JUDGES of an annual Lake District baking contest have been bowled over by the skill and imagination shown by entrants.

The Lindeth Howe Fairy Cake Competition – now in its second year - which took place at the Windermere hotel featured an eye-catching array of mouth-watering mini masterpieces.

Head chef Marc Guibert and general manager Alison Magee-Barker, were joined by 14-year-old Erin Whalley – who is currently playing Tinkerbell in a production of Peter Pan at Lancaster’s Duke’s Theatre – to judge the culinary contest.

“The standard this year has been very impressive,” said Mr Guibert. “The entries have been great and what I have liked is that they have all been very different – there has been a lot of variety.”

Lucy Staniek, 9, of Thornbarrow Road, Windermere, won the under 12 age group with her animal themed cakes. She won Beatrix Potter goodies as well as four VIP passes to the World of Beatrix Potter visitor attraction at Bowness.

The 12-18-year-old age group was won by Emilie Healey, 12, of Hartley Street, Ulverston, who has been baking since she was four-years-old. Her jelly baby decorated cakes won her and three friends an afternoon tea at Lindeth Howe.

The hotly contested over-18s category was won by Christine Dacre, Vengeance Street, in Barrow. She had decorated her cakes with petal paste – which had been carefully sculpted to look like fabric.