IT has to be the ultimate gingerbread house – a stunning recreation of one of the country’s most famous stately homes made entirely out of spiced biscuit.

Castle Howard near Malton has been elaborately rebuilt in edible form and will be the centrepiece of the great house’s festive experience when it goes on show on Saturday.

The model depicts Castle Howard as it was originally designed by Sir John Vanbrugh.

Buildings by Nicholas Hawksmoor as well as the much later Castle Howard railway station, used by Queen Victoria for her visit, have also been created – together with a gingerbread train wending its way along tracks laid through the confectionery estate.

The model is the work of the leading experts in architectural food, Bompas and Parr, and was commissioned by Victoria Howard.

“As anyone who has visited knows, scale is something that Castle Howard knows a thing or two about, and our Christmas gingerbread house is no exception,” she said.

The gingerbread house will be on display for a limited period during the stately home’s Christmas opening

“It is an expensive project, but visitors would be disappointed if it was not breath-taking in both its artistry and scale,” said Victoria.

“It is investments such as this that help us attract over 250,000 visitors each year from every corner of the globe. These visits are a core part of generating a sustainable income to preserve and nurture this unique property.”

For information on all of Castle Howard’s Christmas events, or to prebook, visit castlehoward.co.uk.