THE creators of some of the most delectable treats to be found in Oxford have signed up to judge the Oxfordshire Bake-Off.

The charity baking competition, inspired by BBC2 hit show The Great British Bake-Off, is in aid of Oxfam, breast cancer charity CoppaFeel and the Oxford Rape Crisis Centre.

Now Benoit Blin, pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, has agreed to judge the big cake and outstanding baker categories.

Julian O’Neill, director of food for Mogford Limited which includes the Old Parsonage, Quod, Gee’s and the Old Bank Hotel, will judge the afternoon tea category, and Hervé Gatineau of Gatineau Patisserie in Summertown will judge classic bakes.

Mr Blin said: “This is a fantastic event and anything that brings Oxford’s baking world together has to be good.”

The event at Oxford Town Hall on Saturday, March 24, between 11am and 4pm, has been organised by Kate Kellaway-Moore.

She said: “The response has been overwhelming – more than 100 people have asked to take part so far. I’m excited chefs of this calibre have come on board, it says a lot about the enthusiasm for baking in Oxfordshire.”

The new judges will join cookery writer Annie Bell, Kate Shirazi, who is behind cupcake empire Cakeadoodledo, Masterchef contestant Alexis Thompson and Maria Mayerhofer, who runs her own baking school, to taste and judge the baked goods.

There are seven categories, to measure the best luscious loaf, tea party, perfect pie, classic bake, big cake, Oxfordshire Star Junior Baker and cupcake connoisseur. As well as the baking competition, there will be stalls, workshops for adults and children and a teashop.

And after the winners are announced at 2pm, the cakes, loaves, pies and treats will be sold in aid of the three charities, unless contestants want to take them home.

Miss Kellaway-Moore has produced a book of recipes by female baking legends, Oxfordshire Bake-Off Book, which will be sold for £5 a copy.

Visit oxfordbakeoff.wordpress.com to find out more