A FORMER teacher who took up baking as a hobby three years ago has scooped a top prize for her intricate decorating skills.

Christine Beedham from Old Hall created an impressive cake inspired by Chinese carved ivory brush pots.

She started work on the royal icing decorations in March and was awarded a silver medal for her work at the Cake International event in Birmingham.

Christine, who used to teach at Callands Primary School, said: “It’s the first time I have entered a competition. I was absolutely made up when I won second place.

“I wasn’t even planning to enter, I didn’t think I was good enough.

“But I just enjoy the challenge.”

Christine went on to work for Warrington Borough Council’s education department where she made friends with Jean Hudson.

The pair started taking baking classes together about three years ago and since then 61-year-old Christine has been perfecting her skills, with a little encouragement from her friend.

She said: “It just gave me an opportunity to be a bit more creative. I didn’t have anything in my life that allowed me to be creative at that time.

“The idea for this cake just came out of the blue. I made a Christmas cake last year that was half a cake with royal icing around it to finish the circle.

“As I was doing it I thought it as a bit like an ivory carving. So I started to look at pictures and the idea developed from there.

“Jean challenged me last year to enter a competition and I said there’s no way. But I decided to have a go even though I wasn’t sure if I could do it.”

Mum-of-two Christine has made wedding cakes for her niece and son and created a spectacular white Christmas cake which was lit from inside.

But baking a showstopper for a major contest was a new challenge.

She said: “It seemed to take forever to make it. I started it in March and then left it again until the last three weeks before the competition.

“It was quite stressful. I would never go on something like the Great British Bake Off because I don’t like the pressure.

“It was amazing to get second place, just incredible. I didn’t expect to get anything so I was thrilled to bits.”