Charity bake off competition at The Lansdowne, Leicester

Leicestershire’s finest amateur and professional bakers have just a few days left to enter a charity bake off at Leicester pub The Lansdowne in aid of Coping with Cancer.

Holly Bell, finalist in last year’s BBC Great British Bake Off TV programme, heads a team of guest judges who will be sampling entries in the competition, which takes place on Saturday March 17th.

But contestants need to get their entry forms in by March 3rd for the chance to be crowned best baker and win one of the range of prizes on offer, which include two £50 bar tabs, champagne and tickets to shows at the Capital FM Arena Nottingham.

Entries are being invited from professional bakers, as well as those who like to knock up a sponge at the weekend or create a tray bake in the evenings.

The competition, which is free to enter, has a number of different categories for cupcakes, brownies, speciality bread or a signature bake.

“We are keen to give our guest judges something they can really get their teeth into, so the more the merrier when it comes to entries for The Lansdowne’s charity bake off competition,” said event organiser Alex Lumley.

The event is being staged in aid of Leicestershire and Rutland charity Coping with Cancer, which supports people affected by the condition.

After judging, the cakes and breads will be sold off to raise money for the charity, which The Lansdowne in London Road has pledged to support.

Holly, from Leicester, was a popular contestant in the 2011 BBC Great British Bake Off and made it to the final.

The other judges are Matthew Wright, editor of Great Food Magazine, Char Lavender of Bitsy's Cupcakery, and Tom Brucciani, managing director of craft bakery and café company Brucciani (Midlands) Ltd.

Details for entering The Lansdowne’s bake off are available from the pub and also to download from the website www.orangetree.co.uk

Forms need to be submitted by March 3rd 2012.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk