A Nelson bakery, where 5 per cent of profits go to local charities and the homeless eat free, is a finalist in the Lancashire Telegraph’s Best Bakery 2024 competition.

Ten bakeries are battling it out for your votes, with Z’Pies and Pasties being one of the nominees.

After receiving a devastating cancer diagnosis in 2020, Afshan Iqbal was forced to turn away from her dream of becoming a baker and receive intense medical treatment.

But after realizing the comfort she felt from people liking her food she opened Z’Pies and Pasties earlier this year with ambitions to help the wider community in Pendle.

Afshan said: “To win this would be a dream come true. Z'pies is a dream of mine and five per cent of what I do goes to charities, and I feed homeless people. It does mean a lot to me.

“The high-quality products we use and the effort we put in. A lot of people said I couldn't do it, and I did.

“My initiative when I was ill was to put a smile on people's faces, that is all that matters to me.”

She become an internet sensation for her selection of sweet treats, with local favourites being the pistachio and white chocolate croissant and her chocolate cake with mint custard.

The company do savoury options depending on what customers wantThe company do savoury options depending on what customers want (Image: Z'Pies and Pasties)

But despite the success, she doesn’t give herself a wage and focuses her attention on helping the community.

She provides free food to the homeless, which is advertised in the shop window, as well as offering people with mental health issues the option of coming in and having a cuppa, cake and a space to vent.

Additionally, she supports children in the area who suffer from disabilities and hosts an event to make sure they feel comfortable in the space.

Afshan added: “If there is anyone who needs help, we will go and deliver to them.”

They also offer savoury options, with popular orders including the cheese and onion pie and chicken tikka pasties.

She said: “What we are known for is fresh food and we listen to the people. Every day, I would ask everybody if we would have a certain thing for lunch, what I would cook, and we cater for all allergies.”

She works alongside four staff and despite Afshan doing the social media work she says that it is a team effort.

Readers will be able to vote for the ‘Best Bakery 2024’ by picking up copies of the Lancashire Telegraph between Monday, September 2 and Saturday, September 14, with the winner announced the week commencing September 23