AN award-winning cafe in Bolton is building a up a reputation in more ways than one.

In just over two years Bakers, in Egerton, the capacity has gone from 20 to 120.

And the unique look of the place is down to former Royal Naval officer Jason Baker, who has built all the tables, chairs and partition walls by hand.

Jason and wife Angela, an ex-primary school teacher, started out the venture as a tearoom, in a former Co-op building, part of which had been the hardware shop HandyLand for a number of years.

He said: "I used to be an engineer in the Royal Navy so everything has been built from scratch and it's just gone from there."

The couple had previously run eateries in Yorkshire but fell in love with the possibilities of making a new start in Greater Manchester.

Jason added: "Everything at Baker's is made with love. We opened the business as a small tearoom, with a gift shop selling local crafts and handmade beds and a small kitchen serving sandwiches.

"Within just a few months, customer demand meant we needed to extend our kitchen and dining areas.

"Over the next year we increased seating and created a beautiful outside dining area with a small children's play area taking our seating capacity from 20 to 120."

Their workforce also increased from just three to 15, with young head chef Aydan Lister making key contributions and Angela's mother, Avis Faulkner, regularly baking up a storm with their popular range of cakes.

One of their most recent distinctions is victory in the Taste Lancashire Awards, for best cafe or tearoom of 2019, as well as previously securing honours with the Bolton News for the borough's best breakfast.

Away from the kitchen, the Bakers have also been keen to cement a place in the community, working with pupils at nearby Eagley Infants to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs, which can then be deployed on their menu. The youngsters have also been growing flowers and plants for their garden and are looking into rescuing battery hens to provide a ready supply of eggs.

Flower troughs have also been provided for the village and the venue has taken part in the poppy appeal and sports kit sponsorship drives.

Plans are also now in place to open up more space in the old building to create a new bar area.