A former Great British Bake Off contestant has signed up to create recipes based on jams and chutneys sold by a Kent food producer and distributor.

Kate Henry, who competed on the BBC1 show last year, will write a collection of cooking ideas for Bennett Opie to be released in time for Christmas.

The Sittingbourne-based company will get the mother-of-one to make cakes and canopes out of items like its pickled walnuts, cocktail cherries and black cherries in kirsch.

Managing director William Opie said: “Since the resurgence in popularity of baking we have seen much greater demand for our baking-related products.

“We were delighted when Kate agreed to work on a collection of recipes on our behalf as this will be the perfect way to showcase our brand and to highlight our product range.

“Kate proved last year that she is the ideal person to devise recipes with interesting flavour combinations whilst ensuring that the recipe remains achievable for the home cook.”

Ms Henry said: “My mind is already awash with ideas of how they can be used in all sorts of sweet and savoury recipes.

“I look forward to creating, baking and tasting my ideas over the coming months. I can’t wait to get started.”

Once complete, the recipes will be available from the Opies website and also through a variety of digital channels.