BOLTON’S David Foster is all set to make the perfect mince pie for his 66-year-old baker dad who not only retired from making the festive treats last year but whose birthday was on Christmas Day.

David Foster senior’s family has been baking mince pies at Sayers the Bakers in Sidney Street, Great Lever, for 65 years, and his son was determined to give his dad a big surprise by perfecting his recipe.

Mr Foster junior said: “My dad has been a baker for 50 years at Sayers and after taking the helm last year I want to show him that his legacy has continued and I can make him proud.

“There is a fine art involved in creating the perfect mince pie and I’m confident that I’ve mastered it.

“The baking has to be just right so that the base is just as crispy as the top — it’s all in the bake.”

Mr Foster, aged 35, was born and bred and in Bolton and after leaving Canon Slade School at the age of 16 started off by learning how to bake potato cakes.

He then went to Bolton College to learn the theory and returned to join his father, who celebrated at Sayers baking mince pies.

Mr Foster overses the production of thousands of mince pies across the North West and Yorkshire and has lost count in terms of how many he has tasted over the years.

He added: “It’s a tough job but someone has to do it. In reality I do love my job and I get a fun reaction from people when I tell them I make mince pies for a living. The truth is although I taste a lot of food I don’t actually eat it all and to me it’s a job that I take great pride in.”

“The Sayers mince pie has such a good reputation and has won countless taste tests so it’s important to continue this high standard. I’m confident that they’re as delicious now as they always have been and I just hope my dad agrees as he’ll be the toughest critic.”