Shoppers had their taste buds tickled at the Eden Shopping Centre today as its annual food festival returned to High Wycombe.

Celebrity guest Nadiya Hussain wowed the crowds with live cookery demonstrations of her favourite recipes, including a chicken and egg korma and cherry bakewell macaroons.

The Great British Bake Off star also helped judge Bucks’ very own The Big Bucks Bake Off competition, where keen bakers from the area had sent their scrummy creations in to be scrutinised by a panel of judges.

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Nadiya shared some of her cooking tips with the audience, including how to avoid a “soggy bottom” when baking (put the tart, pastry or cake on a baking tray which has been in a pre-heated oven to give it a “rush of heat” from the bottom when it goes back in) and her guilty pleasure – marmite crisps.

The shopping centre was transformed into a bustling food market as shoppers enjoyed culinary delights from some of Eden’s own eateries including Nandos, Wagamama, and Yo! Sushi, as well as sampling cheeses and freshly baked bread from artisan stalls.

Eden’s marketing manager Niamh Crowley said: “The Eden food fair is one of the biggest and most successful events we have in the year, and we’re delighted to be putting it on for our shoppers.

“Having a star like Nadiya Hussain here this year has been a real honour. She is loved by everybody and has helped to pull in big crowds today.”

Speaking about the highlight of the vibrant festival, The Big Bucks Bake Off, Ms Crowley said the competition had its highest number of entries this year since it started.

She added: “We had to whittle it down to 20 finalists and seeing the commitment they put into their cakes, it was very hard to judge.”

Nadiya judged the cakes on appearance as she was observing Ramadan, and told the BFP she was looking for a “different range of skills” used to make the cakes when judging.

She said: “It is always interesting to see the techniques that people have used to showcase their skills. Whether that’s using different piping skills, different methods of covering the cake or different flavours – it’s artistic.”

She also praised the “high standard” of the baked goods presented to her, adding: “The standard of the cakes today has been amazing. It’s great how people are so creative.”

After around an hour of deliberations, the 20 cakes, which included a chocolate avocado cake, gluten free M&M rainbow cake and spiced chocolate and orange cake, were narrowed down to just three.

Third place went to Arji Faizal for a beautifully designed Garden of Eden cake and second place went to Rebecca Sadler for her triple layered flower cake, with real flowers decorating the stunning cake.

Alison Duffield, 40, from High Wycombe took the top prize, impressing the judges with her white chocolate, cranberry and orange gateau.

Ms Duffield told the BFP she made the sponges for her gateau on Thursday night and spent most of yesterday afternoon decorating her creation: “I’m just astonished, so excited and really, really pleased.”

All the winners took home a trophy, Eden Centre shopping and free meal vouchers, and slices of all the 20 cakes were sold to shoppers with proceeds going to the Wycombe Homeless Connection.