Fern Britton nibbles her way through cupcake competition (From Bucks Free Press)

Fern Britton nibbles her way through cupcake competition

9:43am Monday 10th November 2008 in Search By Lucy Clapham

THIS Morning presenter Fern Britton swapped the ITV couch for a Beaconsfield bakery to judge a tastebud tingling competition.

The face of Ryvita was in town to judge a cupcake competition to mark the 30th birthday of Beaconsfield cookshop David Shuttle.

Fern, from Holmer Green, was joined by her celebrity chef husband Phil Vickery at Jungs bakery, which hosted the judging.

The competition was open to youngsters and split into two age categories, with the winners scooping themselves private lessons at The Climb in Amersham, audio books and other prizes.

Family-run David Shuttle has two stores in The Parade and began trading in the town in December 1978. Since then he has opened stores in Princes Risborough and Gerrards Cross.

Joseph Shuttle, who runs the store's website, assisted Fern and Phil as they nibbled their way through the brightly decorated entries on Saturday, marking them for taste, design, colour and authenticity.

Fern told the Bucks Free Press: “Genuinely the standard was very high and I'm so glad that cupcakes are having something of a rejuvenation.

“These were so beautiful and were so individual, we're proud of all the children who made them.”

Proceeds from the competition went towards the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance, a charity close to the Shuttle family.

Mr Shuttle said: “My wife broke her leg in Sonning three years ago and she was airlifted to Wexham Park.”

He said the competition was a “light hearted” way of celebrating 30 years of business.

“The people of Beaconsfield have been very good to me and this was just a way of having some fun and giving something back,” he added.