Who has the time (or inclination) these days to bake cakes for friends who pop round for coffee? I'm guessing not many of us. But who loves homemade cakes, just like granny used to bake? Most of us do.

There is, however, an answer to this dilemma. Anne Russell of Cottage Cakes, near Evesham, has been baking cakes for markets and craft fairs for more than two decades. They have been sold at farmers' markets around the county since 2000.

Her stall has plenty of regular customers. Anne said: "I see my regular customers approaching the stall and I know before they ask me exactly what they will buy - they all have their particular favourites!"

Anne's cakes range from fruitcakes to sandwich cakes in a variety of flavours, as well as biscuits.

Cottage Cakes also sells an enormous range of jams, marmalades and chutneys.

Anne and her husband Martyn used to do all the baking themselves. Since Martyn died three years ago, Anne's niece, Elaine, whose speciality is sandwich cakes, has joined in.

Anne said: "I've always been interested in cooking. Some of the recipes were my grandmother's and my mother's. Some of the recipes we've made up ourselves.

"And when I go to any little bookshops, I'm always looking for new ideas in cookery books.

"The ingredients that we use are just the kind of thing you would have in your own kitchen. We don't use mixes or put any additives in. Our customers will often say that my cakes are the best they've ever tasted - even better than their granny's!"

Anne became involved in the farmers' markets as she fully supports the idea of local people producing goods for local people.

She takes the philosophy to heart by buying many of the ingredients for her cakes, jams and chutneys from other farmers' market producers and other small local suppliers.

As Anne is now 69, does she plan on retiring?

"Well, I may cut down a little but I'll still carry on doing markets each week. I like the friendships - I meet so many pleasant people and the atmosphere with the other producers is great," she said.

l This week's market is today at High Street, Bromsgrove, from 9am to 5pm.

l Next week's market is on Saturday, February 16, from 9am to 2pm in Abbey Road, Malvern.