IRVINE’S Bakery of Beith were celebrating after winning Craft Baker of the Year for the second year running.

The popular Garnock Valley bakery scooped the most awards at the prestigious Scottish Baker of the Year awards ceremony held in Glasgow last weekend.

And Three Towns bakery The Kandy Bar took the top prize for their potato scones.

Irvine’s bakery was awarded:

· Craft Baker of the Year sponsored Clydesdale Bank

· National Gold in the Individual Cake category for their Jap Cake as well as Regional Bronze in the Border and Lowlands for their French Fancy · National Silver Award in the Biscuit category for their Toffee Empire Biscuit

· Best Savoury in the Borders and Lowlands for their Steak Pie as well as the National Silver Award for their Chicken and Black Pudding Pie

· Best Scone in the Borders and Lowlands as well as National Bronze for their Cinnamon & Sultana Scone, Regional Gold for their Chocolate Orange Scone as well as Regional Silver for their Fruit Scone

Maurice Irvine said: “Wow! We are delighted, absolutely delighted.

“Every year our customers vote for our products and we could not be more grateful to win, but in order to take the title of Craft Baker of the Year the judges take a look at our business and it is our whole operation that is judged. So to win this title, again, simply goes to show our products, our staff and our whole ethos as a business is spot on.

“Thank you to everyone who has played a part in our on-going success.”