A TAXI driver who started making cakes less than a year ago has placed second and third in a professional class at the biggest cake show in the South West.

Geoffrey Hill, from Beaworthy, said he had not made a cake before last July, when he made one for his twin daughters' birthdays.

He said: "They wanted an Olaf cake and we couldn't find one anywhere so I made one. A friend saw it and I made one for someone else. I really enjoyed it.

"I stumbled across this little shop in Holsworthy and I thought I'll open a cake shop and see what happens."

Shelbanys Cakes — the name inspired by his nine-year-old twins Shelby and Bethany — opened last month in the Market Arcade.

Mr Hill said the response to his new venture has been 'brilliant', with more than 1,500 'likes' on his Facebook page and people visiting the shop to watch him modelling and sugar crafting.

He works in the shop part-time as well as running a taxi service with his wife.

Mr Hill said he has made about 70 cakes since last July, and decided to enter The BIG Cake Show at Westpoint, Exeter, which took place over the weekend.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.