A STUDENT from North Cestrian School has been crowned the winner of ‘The Great Altrincham Bake Off’.

Jemima Worth, aged 12, triumphed as star baker in the competition, which saw pupils from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls perform their best Mary Berry impressions – baking to impress a panel of judges.

Required to bake a two tier celebration cake, Jemima made a birthday cake with a Victoria sponge top tier and a surprise bottom tier, covered with pink and white marbled fondant icing and finished with hand – crafted fondant flowers and pink piping at the base.

Speaking about the competition, Jemima said: ‘‘Competing in ‘The Great Altrincham Bake Off’ was a really enjoyable experience, and to be announced the winner was just the icing on the cake!

‘‘The final round was particularly nerve-racking as I could see the amazing cakes being created by the other finalists, but I kept my focus and concentrated on doing the best I could.

‘‘I was really pleased that the judges chose my cake as the winner – it turned out the best I could have hoped for!“

Jemima received a first place trophy, apron and baking masterclass at Sugar Couture in Altrincham.

Nabeel Khan from North Cestrian School, Tom Vernon and Mark Graham from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Sneha Rammohan and Aaishah Ali from Altrincham Grammar School for Girls were all grand finalists in the competition.

Year 9 pupils Sneha and Aaishah, from Altrincham Grammar School for Girls took second and third place – picking up a commemorative cup each.

Sneha created a ginger and vanilla space-themed cake inspired by astronaut Tim Peak. It boasted vanilla buttercream, marshmallows and marbled chocolate shards topped with a fondant astronaut.

Aaishah presented a chocolate, hazelnut and raspberry cake with hazelnut dacquoise, homemade raspberry jam, hazelnut praline and vanilla crème pâtissièrre – covered with dark chocolate ganache and topped with chopped hazelnuts and raspberries.

Aileen James, food technology teacher at North Cestrian, said: ‘‘It has been a fantastic competition and it’s great to have involved other schools from the local area in an event that has really captured the imagination of pupils.

“It was great to see two of our Year 7 students baking such fantastic cakes. Both Jemima and Nabeel were ambitious with their bakes at each stage of the competition, so it was no surprise that they delivered such bold creations for the final. A huge well done to them both!’’

The competition was judged by a panel of five, made up of Monty Harrison-Stirling, CBBC Junior Bake Off semi-finalist 2013, Mandy Foley-Smith and Alanah Smith, owners of Altrincham-based cake shop Sugar Couture, Shirley Ryder, former President and Chairman of the Craft Bakers Association and Elaine Hamey, owner of Elaine’s Creative Cakes in Urmston.

Mandy Foley-Smith, owner of Sugar Couture said: ‘‘Myself and the other judges were blown away by the show stopping cakes presented to us – not to mention the fact that they were baked, iced and decorated in such a short timeframe!

‘‘The level of skill was outstanding, particularly from Jemima, with her piping, marbling and incredible attention to detail. Who knows, maybe she will teach us a thing or two in her masterclass!’’

Other cakes baked by the finalists included a 4th of July-themed peanut-butter-flavoured sponge decorated with American landmarks from Altrincham Grammar School For Boys’ Year 8 student Tom Vernon.

Year 9 Altrincham Grammar School for Boys’ student Mark Graham produced an Olympic-themed sponge cake featuring an Olympic torch and mini sponge cakes to represent the Olympic rings.

Year 7 North Cestrian pupil Nabeel Khan created a delice noisette, comprising of chocolate sponge and topped with raspberries, strawberries and chocolate fingers drizzled with melted chocolate.

Lee Bergin, headmaster at North Cestrian added: ‘‘What a fantastic competition! It was a pleasure to welcome parents and judges to North Cestrian to join us in celebrating the students’ baking talents.

‘‘I’d like to thank Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls for being such great sports and generating lots of enthusiasm amongst their competitors.

‘‘Congratulations to all six finalists on showcasing fantastic talent and commitment, and thank you to all students across the schools that entered.’’

The five judges with winner Jemima Worth and runners-up Sneha Rammohan and Aaishah Ali