BAKERS are being encouraged to whip up their best cupcakes and Victoria sponges as this year’s Oxfordshire Bake Off kicks off.

The final details of the contest have now been confirmed, with entries opening on Saturday, June 15.

More than £1,100 was raised for Oxfam, Oxford Rape Crisis and children’s charity Cecily’s Fund by last year’s event in Oxford Town Hall.

This year’s organiser and baking enthusiast Kate Kellaway-Moore is hoping to raise £10,000 for Oxfam and Helen and Douglas House.

The 24-year-old from Witney said: “When I started the event, I don’t think I could have foreseen how much support I’d receive.

“I was just someone who loved baking in my kitchen and I wanted an event that would bring bakers together.

“I didn’t imagine how high the standard was going to be. I nearly fell over when I tasted the winning entry for our ‘big cake’ category – I had no idea cake could be that incredible.”

Ms Kellaway-Moore, a marketing and communications executive for Oxfam, is hoping there will be more bread and junior entries this year.

She said: “Last year we only had a few bread entries, so I really hope these numbers will rise.

“You can’t beat a good loaf after all.”

The judges will include Clandestine Cake Club founder and author of The Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook, Lynn Hill, and Benoit Blin, pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Great Milton.

Mr Blin said: “I am delighted to be involved with the second year of the Oxfordshire Bake Off.

“Judging the event last year I really saw, and tasted, true baking talent in Oxfordshire. I hope that even more of our finest bakers will come forward this year to show us what they can do.”

There are 10 categories including Victoria sponge, tray bake, afternoon tea and loaf.

Cupcakes has a literary theme and the big cake category has a movies theme to mark the 100th anniversary of Oxford’s oldest cinema, the Phoenix Picturehouse.

Emily Wild, 40, is helping to organise the bake off.

The Cleveley mum-of-two said: “We have got lots of lovely ideas about how to make it a really fun day for everyone.

“We hope lots of people come along.”

Entry is £5 per category, or £10 for three categories, and entrants will get a bag full of baking goodies. The entry fee goes to the charities.

The bake off will take place on Saturday, October 5, at Oxford High School.

For more details visit oxfordbakeoff.wordpress.com or to register interest email Ms Kellaway-Moore on oxfordbakeoff@gmail.com