A KINDHEARTED fundraiser has proved a mile a day goes a long way.

Colin Smith, aged 53, of Church Street, Blackrod, suffers from an irregular heartbeat and helpers from The Atrial Fibrillation Association (AFA) charity recommended he to walk a mile a day to keep healthy.

To return the favour, Mr Smith used his daily walk to ask for friends and local businesses to take part in a sponsored bake off.

And people flocked to Blackrod to take at look at the entries of bakers who whipped up tasty treated for the contest.

A dozen Blackrod-based firms even offered sponsorship and raffle prizes.

Judges for the competition included renowned chef Tom Bridge and Blackrod Mayor Stephen Laycock, who cast their eye over a chocolate beetroot cake, a Victoria sponge and the winning entry — a scarecrow cake. made by Madeline Holmes.

The bake off, held at Blackrod Methodist Church, raised £104 for The AFA and Mr Smith said he was delighted with the way it all went.

He added: “The AFA have been helpful to me and I wanted to give something back.

“I’d like to thank everyone who helped make the bake off so successful and maybe it can become annual thing.”

Mr Smith is now looking to start a baking club.

Email smithy.1959@yahoo.com if you are interested.