A SELF-employed baker has tickled the taste buds of judges in a contest run by a supermarket chain.

Dawn Carvey, who runs Traditional and Scrumptious in Dalton on Tees, has been shortlisted within the bakery category of the Small Producers' Awards run by Waitrose, for her apricot and ginger fruit cake.

Mrs Carvey, who runs the business in her kitchen at home, started baking when she was six and still loves it.

"My dad was a baker and confectioner. He was very enthusiastic and supportive about me baking and always wanted me to have a go.

"He was very critical of my baking but during the last ten years he has been coming for Sunday tea and really enjoys it now. My standards must have improved."

Mrs Carvey started her business eight years ago after being made redundant.

She supplies local shops, tea rooms and individuals across North Yorkshire including Lewis & Cooper in Northallerton and Yarm, and the tea room at the Helmsley Walled Garden.

"I write a lot of the recipes myself and I also experiment with ingredients to see what works," said Mrs Carvey.

"The apricot and ginger fruit cake is my own recipe and I'm pleased to have been shortlisted for an award."

Mrs Carvey had the option to supply selected Waitrose stores with her goods but as a member of the Guild of Fine Foods can supply only independent businesses, not supermarkets.

"I think I would struggle to supply a large supermarket order," she said. "Currently, from September to the middle of December, I make about 100 Christmas cakes a week. In the summer it's a bit more civilised: I make about 50 cakes a week including bigger ones for tea rooms.

"I wrap them up and label them. The hardest part is correctly labelling the percentage of ingredients. It's very difficult to work them out."

The winners of the awards will be announced in July. Category winners each receive £5,000 and marketing, design and business advice from Waitrose. The supreme champion receives £10,000.