A GREAT British Bake Off contestant has been cooking up a storm for his parishioners since leaving the show.

Rev Lee Banfield, from Cornerstone Church, was booted off the popular cooking show in the first episode but it has not deterred him from baking.

Since the show Mr Banfield has been copying the recipes produced each week on the show for his parishioners, who have been enjoying the tasty treats.

Mr Banfield, who is looking forward to tonight’s final, said: “Before you go on the show you have to develop 18 recipes for the nine episodes and obviously I was the first one to leave so I didn’t get to make a lot of them.

“So each week I have been copying what they make in the show and taking them to church for people to eat after the Sunday service.

“I think everyone has enjoyed it.”

The show comes to an end this evening when Jane, Candice or Andrew will be crowned winner.

Mr Banfield, who was this year’s oldest contest aged 67, said that he had enjoyed watching the series.

He said: “It has been interesting seeing how they have all decided to do things. It was obviously early days when I was there and I actually beat Andrew in the Jaffa Cake challenge, he came last!

“It was hard to guess at the start who was going to win because we were all just getting used to the tent and the ovens.

“I’ll be pleased for whoever wins.”

Since leaving the show Mr Banfield has kept in close contact with the other contestants.

He said: “We have all been swapping tips and advice by text on what’s the best approach for doing certain things.

“We will all be in London together to watch the airing of the final and it will be lovely to see everyone.

“We all got on really well and we will all keep in contact now it’s finished.”

The final of The Great British Bake Off will air tonight at 8pm on BBC 1.

Mr Banfield will be appearing on Extra Slice at 8.30pm on BBC2 on Friday