A HAMBLE mum-of-three won bronze in a worldwide baking competition – and it was the first competition she ever entered.

Former chef Kirsty Foulkes, 30, entered Cake International, held in Birmingham, which took place from November 5 to 7.

Although she was a first time entrant, Kirsty's chances of scooping a prize were not hindered and she bagged a bronze award for her detailed, sculptured cake of an otter eating a salmon.

Daily Echo: Hamble cake maker Kirsty Foulkes with her winning cake

Kirsty said: "I used to be a chef before having children, then I started my cake business Kirsty's Cakes Hamble a couple of years ago. I have always liked baking and making cakes for friends and family. I then really started to get into cake sculpting.

"I have made quite a few sculpted cakes over the past few years

"Cake International was my first time ever entering a competition, and it is described as the largest cake competition in the world, people come from all over to take part. The class I entered was Class H, 'Sculpted/Carved cake'.

"This is said to be the hardest class in the competition. It took me five days to make my cake, and the cakes are not tasted in this class.

Daily Echo: Kirsty Foulkes' winning otter cake

"I made an otter as I love wildlife and the countryside."

Between 50 and 60 people entered in the same class as Kirsty alone, and only bronze and silver awards were won.

Kirsty said: "Entering was definitely about the experience for me. I didn't expect to win anything, I just wanted someone really good to judge my work. I couldn't really beat that.

"I'm definitely going to enter again, I really enjoyed making my cake."

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