Oh crumbs! Eating cake at 40mph

As an experiment in eating cake it was bound to come to a sticky end.

But sinking their teeth into a slice of strawberry gateau during a thrilling speedboat ride was Alex Thomas and her friend's idea of heaven.

The gooey feast went ahead on the back of a boat zooming over the water at 40 mph.

Covered in cream, it was a case of cake rather than egg on their faces for Alex and chum Laura Lipton, both aged 15.

Alex from Stream Park, Kingswinford, was in Russells Hall Hospital for an ear operation earlier this year.

While there the founder of the Russells Hall Hospital Wishing Well charity asked her what she would like to do if she could have one wish.

Originally the Crestwood School pupil wanted to bounce on a trampoline with a bowl of custard on her head but decided that could be tricky.

Instead she asked to sit on the back of a speed boat eating a cream cake as it sped across the water.

She said: "It was just a mad moment. I just thought of the most silly and fun thing I could do.

"It was impossible to eat the cake and it just stuck to my face, it went all over the boat."

The stunt took place at Netherton reservoir and was arranged by Dudley Water Sports Centre.

Director Terry Jones, aged 49, said the club offers people the chance to water ski and do diving and sailing and members compete all over the world.

The sheet metal worker from Tyzack Close, Brierley Hill, said: "We were happy to help make Alex's wish come true."

Steve Ford who set up Russells Hall Hospital Wishing Well charity to help grant the wishes of poorly youngsters said: "Regardless of the illness I think it is pretty traumatic for a child to have to spend time in hospital and that's why I set up the charity."