YOUNG cooks grabbed their aprons and challenged each other to a bake-off at Seevic College.

Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and deputy mayor AndrewSheldon joined families in the kitchen for the free event at the college, in Kiln Road, Thundersley.

Justin Arnold, Seevic’s head chef, ran the bake-off every day foraweek to help parents enjoy a day of cooking with their children.

A bread-making class started the fun and was followed by a masterclass in the art of making choux pastry led by Venetia Shaw, known to the college’s students and staff as “GrannyBakes”.

Mrs Shaw, 71, has been cooking up sweet treats at Seevic for the past 12 years.

In an average week, she turns out 150 eclairs, 150 scones, 400 profiteroles, 300 cupcakes, 1,000 flapjacks and three-and-a-half litres of chocolate sauce. She also makes one fruit cake and one lemon drizzle cake a day.

Mr Arnold said: “We wanted to bring local families into the college and give them the chance to cook together, and promote the community learning experience, and we’ve been very successful in this respect.

“We’ve had parents and carers in with their kids, but we’ve also had grandparents, aunties and uncles coming in, as well.”