HEAVENLY desserts are needed for the first ever Clitheroe Pudding Festival.

Budding bakers of cakes, scones, biscuits and puddings of all varieties are being asked to come forward and cram Clitheroe Parish Church Lower Hall with treats.

The event will be held on Saturday, August 13, to raise money for the town’s branch of the Friends of Chernobyl Children.

The event, which is part of the wider Clitheroe Food Festival, is the brainchild of Rev Andy Froud of St Mary’s Parish Church and Clitheroe pudding queen Helen Colley of Farmhouse Fare fame.

Their idea is for people pay to sample a variety of different goods, with all proceeds going to the charity.

Mrs Colley said: “This is something fun that the whole community can get involved in as everybody loves puddings.

“We want to see as many different kinds of puddings there as possible. It’s for a great cause and I’m a big believer in supporting local produce.”

The Friends of Chernobyl’s Children brings disadvantaged children aged between six and 13 from Belarussia to the UK for a month every year.

Fundraiser Liz Islam said: “We’re coming up to the 25th anniversary of the disaster and it’s still having a big impact on communities. As well as the health impacts, there is a lot of deprivation and fractured communities.

“We need £10,000 a year to run the trips, so we’re hoping this event is a success.”

Rev Froud said: “These are sin-free puddings! The event will promote Clitheroe and will help children from a very poor part of the world.

“Seeing their faces light up when they first see the sea or Pendle Hill is quite something.

“So I would encourage everyone to come along, enter a dessert and sample others. You don’t have to be Jamie Oliver to do this.”

Tickets to the pudding festival, which runs from 11am, cost £3 for three samples, and £5 for six samples.

To enter a pudding, telephone Rev Froud on 07969576691 or visit the pudding section at www.stmaryclitheroe.com.