Love and cakes were in the air when staff at Ason’s solicitors engaged in a Great British Bake Off-style fundraiser for Bolton Hospice.

The company raised £103 during the Valentine’s Day themed event for the hospice, which provides palliative and end-of-life care for people in the borough.

Winner Sophie Gilbert was “ecstatic” that her mouth-watering Mars bar cheesecake tickled the taste buds of the judges, namely Ason’s principal Kamran Akram and Bolton Hospice’s Sally Wilson.

In total 16 scrumptious desserts were baked, including traditional cakes, cupcakes and cake pops, and each slice of cake was bought for £1 each by members of staff.

The event was planned as part of Joseph Hossein and Naureen Riaz’s fundraising efforts for Bolton Hospice’s Strictly Learn to Dance competition.

The pair aim to raise £800 before they hit the dance floor on April 5, to compete with The Bolton News’ light-footed Liam Thorp.

Miss Gilbert, a cost executive at Ason’s, said: “I’m not a baker usually. I just did it for this fantastic cause.

“I’m ecstatic that I’ve won. The judges seemed to enjoy it and said it was very moreish.

“It was a traditional cheesecake recipe but with Mars bar in between the crumb and cream cheese filling. I knew that would be a nice indulgent ingredient to add to the Valentine’s Day theme.”

Sally, hospice events co-ordinator, said: “It’s great the way that Joe and Naureen are finding such fun ways to fundraise for the hospice — and what better way that to do it with cake? Everybody made such an incredible effort and we’re really grateful to those who took the time to make a cake.”