HEAD baker Kath Mitchell has retired after 13 years at the Fresh Approach Restaurant at Bents Garden Centre in Glazebury.

But she's passed on a host of secret recipes including one for the giant scone which has gone down a treat with thousands of happy customers.

Kath joined the garden centre in 1993 as a baker in the Balcony Coffee Shop, the forerunner to the award winning Fresh Approach Restaurant and brought with her a secret that would become famous - the recipe for the Bents' scone; a large and delicious homebake that people travel from all over the region to enjoy.

It was her recipe for this and many other delights that contributed to the huge success of the Balcony Coffee Shop and in part helped to lay the foundations for the 480 seat Fresh Approach Restaurant. Launched in September 2001 the Fresh Approach has gone on to win some of the top industry's top awards including Best Restaurant in the UK and Best Coffee Shop in the UK.

Grateful centre owner Ron Bent said: "We are very sad to see Kath leave. She has been an important member of our team for such a long time. Her recipes have had a significant and direct impact on the catering side of our business.

"We are delighted to say that Kath has entrusted us with her secret recipes - for which we have sworn an oath of silence - and we wish her all the best for the future. We wouldn't be where we are today without her."