THERE is nothing quite so cheery on a bleak mid-winter’s day than a fresh slice of delicious home-made cake. Of course, not so many of us have the time (or the skills) these days to make something that is truly tasty – so why not let the experts take over and you can just enjoy the fruits of their labours.

Anne Russell has been making cakes, flapjacks and shortbread for a number of years and has perfected her own fabulous recipes.

Anne, who runs Cottage Cakes with her niece Elaine Osborne, will be at today’s farmers’ market at St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester.

Anne says: “We make the cakes on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so they are nice and fresh for the market on a Saturday. I used to have a small unit where we made everything, but we work from my home now.

“We always make a selection of fruit cakes and sponge cakes, which we have found are the most popular. Our coffee and walnut and lemon drizzle cakes always go down well, as do our flapjacks and shortbread.”

Anne and Elaine don’t just make cakes – they also have some tasty jams, marmalade and chutneys. Anne says: “We concentrate on those on a Monday and Tuesday, so we are busy all week. We make a range of jams and chutneys, using local ingredients, so do come along and try some.”

You will find the Cottage Cakes stall at today’s market, at St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester, from 9.30am until 2pm. There are no farmers’ markets next weekend, so you will have to wait until Saturday, February 6, for your next market, in Victoria Square, Droitwich, from 9am until 2pm, or on Sunday, February 7, at Royal Worcester Porcelain, from 10am until 2pm.

This will be the final farmers’ market at Royal Worcester Porcelain – from March 7 the market will be held in Angel Place, Worcester.

For more information about Worcestershire Farmers’ Markets, log on to the group’s website at wfmg.co.uk.