BAKERS from East Lancashire rose to the occasion this weekend at a Great British Bake Off-style event to raise money for special needs swimming club.

Much loved comedian and actor Ted Robbins, his wife Judy and daughter Molly who runs her own cake business, judged the competition which was held at the Red Lion pub in Rawtenstall.

Prizes were awarded for best savoury, best sweet, best decorative and best cake baked by under-11s with winning bakes including a courgette and lemon cake and a Jamaican coconut and pineapple cake.

It is the third Bake off event the pub has organised to raise money for good causes. This year the cash will go towards the Rossendale Rays a special needs swimming club based in the town which costs £10,000 a year to run.

Mr Robbins, who lives in the area, said the standard of cakes gets better every year.

He said: “We often come in the pub. It is our local and there is that sense of community.

“It is raising money for a great cause - the Rossendale Rays.

“The standard just gets higher and higher every year. I don’t know if it is because we are in the middle of a bake-off frenzy. People seem to be getting back to baking and having a go themselves.”

Mr Robbins, who hit the headlines after suffering a cardiac arrest on stage during the live Phoenix nights show in Manchester in January 2015 and has since lost a lot of weight, said he left most of the judging to Judy and Molly who runs her own business Molly’s Creative Cakes which will feature on a Channel Four show next year.

Paul Mulderrig, 55, officer of the Rossendale Rays, said they have to raise all of the money to run the club themselves.

“What is wonderful about this event is it is put on by the pub which is just 200 yards from the swimming club. It is a community run club and the support of the community is just magnificent.

“It goes beyond financial support. Speaking as the parent of a child with special needs I find it breathtaking.”

Joint winner Heather Walker, 51, of Waterfoot, said her courgette and lemon cake was a twist on a Nigella Lawson recipe.

“It’s great to support the club. I love making cakes but it’s about them,” she said.