HUNDREDS of people flocked to Abergavenny today to sample the sights, sounds and tastes of a popular baking contest.

Around 250 people attended the fifth Great Bake Off at Abergavenny Cricket Club for a day of cake demonstrations, afternoon tea and contests which raised £1,600 for cancer charities.

Around 57 entries took across five categories, with two competitions dedicated to 8-12 year olds and another three contests judging cupcakes, traditional bakes and celebration cake.

Alongside live choral music from Tenovus Sing with Us Choir, cake makers sold their creations at a silent auction with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK and Sarcoma UK.

Helen Maloney, 43, of Abergavenny, originally founded the festival with six friends and was excited to see the event "grow bigger and bigger every year."

“What always surprises me is the amount of people who enter into junior categories and the interest in baking among younger people,” she said.

“This year 28 of the people who applied were juniors and over half of the competition entrants were under 12 years old.”

The event also forges strong community links with Abergavenny, with support from Cooks Galley, Seargeant Bros Printers Ltd, A1 Bouncy Castles and Abergavenny Fire Station.

Judges included Odette Phillips from For The Love of Cakes, Emmeline Vieregge from Emmeline’s Homebaking, Jan Howell from The Victorian Tea Rooms and Simon King of 1861 Restaurant.

Ms Kirsty Thomas of Cactus Productions also joined the panel as a new judge and has worked on a number of TV shows including BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.

Ms Maloney added: “It’s a really nice community event and there’s a real sense of pride when you look around and see everyone enjoying themselves. It’s really nice.

“It brings together different charities and businesses and the sun came out just as we started which was very lucky.”

For more information on the event contact: CRUKTeamAber@gmail.com.