WEST Somerset cake decorators wowed everybody with their stunning creations in a Star Baker competition held to celebrate the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival.

There were more than 35 showstopper entries with a stargazing and astronomy or a night wildlife theme and the judges faced a challenge to choose the winners as the standard and creativity was so high.

Entries included bat cakes, an observatory, cakes featuring foxes, hedgehogs, owls, the galaxy, the moon, beavers, the aurora, a ‘star gazey’ pie cake and the planets.

There were entries from every age group, with children as young as four years old taking part in the event held in Porlock Village Hall.

It was organised jointly by Porlock Visitor Centre and Exmoor National Park Authority, with expert judging by Nikki Seymour, from Bake Me Crazy, Fiona Plumstead, of Porlock Ladies, John Halls, from DJ Miles Tea, and Visit Exmoor’s Max Lawrence.

The winners were awarded an engraved wooden spoon given by local producer Burnt Chips and a £10 Argos voucher.

Guest speakers also hosted interesting talks on night wildlife, Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve, and what to look for in the October night skies.

Visitor centre manager Deborah Stanyon said: “We were thrilled by the originality of every entry and we were especially pleased to see so many children embracing this new event.

“Star Baker was a year in the planning and we look forward to being just as creative to celebrate Exmoor Dark Skies in 2024.

“I am very grateful to Porlock Ladies for providing the refreshments and to the guest speakers for providing such interesting talks.”