A GIRL has baked over 30 cakes to surprised key workers as a token of support and thanks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nine-year-old Alexandra Chandler, of the Bullamoor area of Northallerton, has baked 33 cakes and surprised key workers including emergency services and banks with the treats as a gesture of gratitude for their work during the ongoing crisis.

The Romanby School student took on baking after looking for ways to keep herself busy in the lockdown.

She said: "I normally take part in Northallerton Musical Theatre productions so I'm used to seeing how happy they make people. That's all cancelled so I wanted to do something else to make people smile."

The Northern Echo:

After seeing photos on Facebook posted by mum Angela Chandler, some local businesses have donated ingredients to the young baker, such as The Sandwich Bar, which have been used to bake cakes for Northallerton fire crew, who said: “We would like to say big thank you to Alexandra for the chocolate cake she delivered to the station. It was a lovely thing for her to do and we all enjoyed the cake a lot. We’d also like to thank all of our communities for their support during the Covid-19 pandemic, we see wonderful acts of kindness from people. We especially appreciate all the rainbow drawings/paintings that people have dropped off for us to display in the fire station windows.”

The family are also keen to highlight the hard work by other key workers.

Mrs Chandler, 42, said: "We are very proud of Alexandra. The reaction she gets when she gives the cakes is wonderful. There are people going to work who may feel forgotten so this is something we can do for them."

The Northern Echo:

The pair recently took a cake to Halifax on Northallerton high street. Alexandra added: "We just walked up and knocked on the door because they were shut, when they saw we had a cake they were excited and called other colleagues over."

Lynn Horsley, branch colleague, said: “We were delighted to receive a surprise visit from Alexandra in branch this week, our colleagues have been working really hard in order to keep the branch open for our customers to do their essential banking during this difficult time. It was lovely to be recognised and receive such a kind gesture of appreciation.”