BUDDING Poole baker Laura Morris is queen of the cupcakes after winning a national competition at the weekend.

The 25-year-old was named Britain’s top amateur National Cupcake Champion 2014 at Cake International, the sugarcraft, cake decorating and baking show held in Birmingham on Saturday, Laura received her title from the award-winning celebrity cake maker Mich Turner MBE.

The talented young baker overcame stiff competition from 30 other amateur finalists to take the prestigious title in the competition, staged by the magazine journal, British Baker, as part of National Cupcake Week.

Laura impressed the expert competition judges with her delicious themed cupcake, Chocolate Banana Fudge Safari.

They praised the quality and taste of the cupcake as particularly outstanding.

Laura, who also entered the first ever amateur championships last year, told the Echo: “It’s unbelievable, I cannot believe that I have won.

“I have been baking since I was a little girl and I’m always making cakes for my friends. They’ve often said I should be doing it professionally.”

Laura, who studied art and design at school in Swanage, works for accountancy firm, the MKL Partnership. Judging the finals live at Cake International, the sugarcraft, decorating and baking show were a range of experts including Chris Ormorod from Ministry of Cake, Mike Holling from the Craft Bakers Association, Amelia Nutting from Shuga Budz and the 2012 National Cupcake PRO Champion Emily Johnson from Upsy Daisy Bakery, London.

“It was a closely fought contest and the standard of entries from the amateur bakers was brilliant,” said British Baker editor Martyn Leek.

“The taste and flavour combinations were innovative and their creative presentation even more so.

“Laura’s themed cupcake complete with giraffe, however, was an outstanding winner.”

The winner of the Professional Cupcake Championships was also announced at the show.

This year’s title, the sixth, went to Norfolk chef Daniel Addy.

His winning cupcake was a deliciously boozy chocolate and Amaretto flavour.