MEMBERS of Brierley Hill’s Inner Wheel are dusting down their score cards and getting ready to shortlist entries in this year’s Great Halesowen Bake-Off for St George’s Day.

The Bake-Off is part of the Dudley Council’s St George’s Day celebrations, and following the success of the last two St George’s Day bake-offs, organisers have called on the women’s voluntary group to help out.

Members of the group, which fundraises for local, national and international charities, will be shortlisting the entries in readiness for final judging by the Mayor of Dudley.

Bakers of all ages are invited to enter the competition which has three categories – fruit cake, sponge cake and cupcake/muffins – and they can drop entries off to the Bake-Off marquee by Somers Square between 9am and 10.15am on Saturday April 25.

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Margaret Aston, and Mayor’s Consort, Councillor Adam Aston, will judge the competition; and entries will be sold off in a charity cake sale in aid of the mayor’s charities - Action Heart and Guide Dogs.

Shortlisting and judging will take place from 10.15 to around 11.45am, and the winner will be announced by the Mayor during the day’s official opening on the main stage at around noon.

The marquee will be closed to entrants and members of the public during short-listing and judging - to make the process speedy and fair.

Councillor Margaret Aston, mayor of Dudley, said: “This will be the third time we’ve hosted a Bake-Off for St George’s Day, and the quality and commitment of the bakers has increased year on year, I’m sure that this year will be no different.

“I’d like to encourage bakers to dust off their aprons and get mixing to help us raise money to help local people.”

Competitors need to register their interest by emailing halesowenbakeoff@dudley.gov.uk and full details of the competition will be sent to them.

Entry is on a first come first served basis.

Organisers hope to see entries from individuals, schools, churches and faith groups, women’s organisations and other societies.

For more information about the St George’s Day Celebrations visit www.dudley.gov.uk/see-and-do