AN AWARD winning cake has been shell-shocking visitors at a Goodworth Clatford pub.

But it’s not the taste of the Royal Oak’s new Victoria Sponge that’s picking up the plaudits – it’s the design.

In fact, the tortoise themed treat looks so realistic, that its creator, landlady Kate Lawton, says it has fooled at least two of her customers.

The mother-of-three said: “I had one poor lady come up to pay her bill at the bar and someone said to her “mind the tortoise” and she jumped back because she thought it was real.

“I had also one child that got really upset when he found out it wasn’t a real tortoise.

“It’s a nice compliment really.”

As well as visitors to her pub, the six kilogram cake also shellshocked judges at the Cake International show.

The competition, which attracts entrants from all over the world, was held at the NEC in Birmingham in November.

Kate entered her reptilethemed entry in the Sculpted Novelty Cake category and achieved a gold award, meaning she finished in the top ten of the 64 entries.

It’s the highest finish the 47-year-old has ever achieved in the competition.

It is even more of an achievement considering she only began baking five years ago.

The fascination began back in 2011 as a way or raising money for charity as part of her other passion - marathon running.

During that time Kate has completed a staggering 14 marathons, including London, New York, Paris and Berlin.

She has also raised thousands of pounds for charity in the process, mainly through her cake baking exploits.

However Kate says her most recent tortoise creation, which was based on a 3D garden ornament and took over 10 hours to make, is one of her best achievements yet.

She said: “It was amazing, just incredible (to win the award).

“I like this cake because it was really like life. But it’s not my favourite.

“My favourite was trolls under a bridge with piles of discarded McDonalds - But that one only got silver.”

The pub landlady, who has run the Royal Oak with husband Mike for the last 15 years, says she plans to enter the competition again this year in the hope of a top three finish.

Kate will also be competing in three marathons, including the London Marathon, which she will be running in aid of Enham Trust.

If anyone is interested in donating to her run visit: http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ katelawton1.