Baking buff Mary Berry cast her discerning eye over cakes, muffins and sponges produced by a group of budding bakers at Almeley Primary School on Friday.

The TV personality was the guest of honour, and head judge, at the village school's Great Bake Off.

And they start their baking young in West Herefordshire - with finalists as young as 5 rising to the challenge.

Around 130 anxious parents, friends and well-wishers packed the school hall to see the nine finalists take the stage to have their cakes given the Great British Bake Off treatment.

Split into three categories - fairy cakes, muffins and Victoria sandwiches - the competition had been whittled down to just three finalists in each group by six local cookery experts.

After commenting on the high standard of all the entries, Mrs Berry announced the winners; Emily Priday, 6, Evie Hemming, 7, and Erica Jerman, 9.

In the area for the Hay Festival, the author and general connoisseur stayed for a question and answer session with the kids, before giving out a few a few tips to the waiting parents.

The 'Bake Off' judge also stopped to sign books and autographs, hoping to pass on the baking bug to the next generation.

Fellow finalists were, in the fairy cakes category, Caroline Turner, 5, and Matthew Hudson, 6, in the muffins category, James Eckley, 7, and Jace Guy, 8, and in the Victoria sponge category, William Holder, 11, and Freddie Oliver, 9.