ARE you at the peak of your baking powers - or do you need to whip up some enthusiasm when it comes to making cakes?

This month Country Harvest is launching its very first baking competition.

As thousands of people across Cumbria sit down to watch BBC1’s Great British Bake Off next week, Country Harvest in Ingleton is calling on bakers of all ages and levels of experience to take part in the competition.

The twist is that each cake has to resemble the mighty peak of Ingleborough, which Country Harvest’s coffee shop looks out on.

The main event will be a baking competition on September 27 where entrants bring in their finished cakes - shaped like Ingleborough - ready for a panel to taste and decide the winner. The look, taste and recipe will all be taken into account and the winner will receive £100 in cash.

The food hall/coffee shop is also planning an additional online competition where people are invited to email a photograph of their cake, also shaped like Ingleborough, or send it via Facebook or Twitter. The winner, who will be chosen by an expert panel at the Ingleborough Bake Off in September, will receive an afternoon tea for two at Country Harvest.

“Our customers are always complimenting us on our cakes in the coffee shop which looks out at Ingleborough. So it made sense to have a baking competition inspired by the peak which can be seen from miles around," said shop manager Steve West.

"Most of the team at Country Harvest love Great British Bake Off so we thought this would be a bit of fun where our customers could get involved and even win some money! We hope the event in September will be a lively one where all the entrants can enjoy meeting and chatting with other like-minded bakers...and perhaps trying a slice or two of cake as well.”

All pictures for the competition, sponsored by Wessex Mill Flours, must be received by Friday, September 16 and people need to register in store or by calling 015242 42223 or emailing suecountryharvest@gmail.com

L Meanwhile, Great British Bake Off contestant Howard Middleton will be passing on his baking skills at a cake making demonstration at Country Harvest in September.

The baker, who hit the headlines when his custard was ‘stolen’ by another contestant on the hit show in 2013, will be at Country Harvest as part of the Ingleborough Bake Off competition.

Howard, a former council worker in Sheffield, will be demonstrating his cake making skills at 5.30pm on Tuesday, September 13. Tickets cost £7.50.