BAKING in the dead of night and disposing of pots and pans, while wafting giveaway delicious smells out of the window.

Don’t tell anyone, but cake making has gone undercover, with the launch of Southend’s first Clandestine Cake Club.

Members of this secret society bake a cake of their choosing and then meet at an undisclosed location to discuss their recipes.

The club was founded in 2010 and now runs nationally, but when Clair Thienel looked for a familiar organisation in south Essex, she couldn’t find one.

So she set up her own club and the first meeting will take place on Saturday, June 2. Clair, 31, says: “I’m very excited about the first meeting and I have already got some ladies from the local Women’s Institute, plus friends and family coming along.

“It is quite exciting because of the secret element to the club and people only find out the location when they join.

“I also like the fact the club is for like-minded people who enjoy cake. It doesn’t matter if they are beginners or haven’t baked a cake in their life...it’s about learning together.

“We want there to be an open and friendly atmosphere where people can come with their own recipes or family recipes that have been passed down.”

As a trained chef and keen baker, Clair has always been passionate about food.

She says: “I trained at South Essex College and got an NVQ in catering and hospitality, going on to work as a professional chef.But I had my little boy Connor and decided that early morning shifts in London were no longer possible.”

Clair also revealed that a bout of depression inspired her interest in baking.

She explains: “I got into baking five years ago and it became a real source of pleasure.

“At one point, I went through a bout of depression and baking was something that helped me.

“On days when I thought, ‘What’s the point of getting out of bed’, I would always look forward to baking a cake.

“You put a lot of love into baking. I don’t own a food processor, so everything’s done by hand. When someone eats it and smiles, it makes it all worth it.”

Her creative streak means Clair likes to experiment with recipes...something she wants to encourage in the group.

She says: “When I started out I absorbed recipes from my mum and cook books.

“But once I had mastered the basic recipes, then I adapted them. I got more creative and incorporated ingredients like parsnips and beetroot.

“I’m hoping members will be up for some experimenting... finding out what works and what doesn’t.”

So what can people expect from the club?

Clair, who lives in Southend, says: “There will be a banana cake, Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate and beetroot cake, plus a walnut and coffee cake.

“We ask people to bring a small cake that can be divided into eight to 10 portions, and for people to bring a container to take some home.”

For more information, visit www.clandestinecakeclub.co.uk