A FORMER Great British Bake Off competitor says the show will not be the same following the departure of judge Mary Berry.

Martha Collision, who was the youngest competitor when she appeared on the show in 2014, was in Houghton-le-Spring to judge a cake contest raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The quarter-finalist said: “It’s a bit sad. It’s completely changed the face of Bake Off. I’m not completely surprised – as soon as I found out Mel and Sue were leaving I thought that was always a possibility because they have a really close friendship.

“I don’t think it will be the same – they’ve taken out too many of the key ingredients. It will definitely be different but it might not be a bad thing.”

The 19-year-old was at the npower office at Rainton House to judge employees’ bobble hat themed cakes, raising funds to help people living with cancer keep warm.

Star baker Michelle Cook, who made a chocolate cake, said: “It was a lovely surprise to have won and great to have Martha judging our baking efforts.”

Martha said: “It was so difficult to judge them because they were visually amazing. It’s about the taste as well though and sometimes it’s not always the best looking cake that wins.”