Lara wins top prize for life-size Captain Jack Sparrow cake
Quirky baker Lara Clarke has won gold for her life-size replica of Captain Jack Sparrow - but almost got disqualified after it was claimed he was made out of clay instead of cake.
The 27-year-old from Brownhills, who had caused a stir at the Cake International Show with her Johnny Depp lookalike, felt her world about to crumble.
"I was shocked more than anything - the head judge came marching towards me with a big knife, I didn't know what to think," she said.
But happily the talented cake artist was able to prove that her 5ft 5in creation was entirely edible and her accolade stood.
Life-size Johnny Depp a piece of cake for Brownhills creator
Baking star Mary Berry shows trade tricks at Birmingham NEC
The drama unfolded on Sunday after two whirlwind days exhibiting at the NEC show where her cake attracted intense media and public interest.
Then on Saturday she learned she had been awarded gold for her efforts. It was just reward for the 90 hours of work that had gone into making it.
"I really didn't expect it. To have received such praise from people was good enough for me but to then win gold on top was amazing," said Lara, who took up cake decorating only two years ago.
Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry at Birmingham NEC for Cake International Show
On Sunday, the competitors were allowed to ask the judges for feedback.
"One of them was telling me that mine really had the X Factor and a crowd of about 50 people were standing around listening," she said.
"Then suddenly the head judge, carrying a big knife, and the show organiser come bearing down on us, shooing people back and cordoning off the area.
"The head judge said they'd recieved a complaint from someone who believed I'd used clay instead of food and icing. She was saying the cake would have to cut.
"By now there was at least 100 people around us, it was crazy.
"I took a chunk out of the back of Jack's leg and even before the knife came out, the judge said she could see it wasn't clay.
"People told me to take it as a compliment because Jack looked too good to be true. I was chuffed."
Jack Sparrow is now back at the home in Rose Drive Lara shares with husband Nikki and her parents-in-law. She will be mending the hole with icing before deciding what to do with her pirate prize-winner.
