Pictured: David and Sarah Yates

Derbyshire's Luke Evans Bakery, one of the oldest family-run bakeries in the Midlands, is celebrating National Craft Bakers' Week 2011 from September 19th to 24th with a string of competitions, demonstrations, tastings and offers.

The bakery, which was founded in 1804 and now employs the eighth generation of the family, will be joining hundreds of other bakers across the UK to mark the event, which promotes the specialist traditional skills that have been practised by craft bakers for generations.

Luke Evans Bakery, based at Riddings near Alfreton, has lined up a series of community events including:

·         The chance for a local good cause to win £207 - one pound for every year that Luke Evans has been in business.

·         The chance for five local companies to each win a dozen cream cakes for elevenses.

·         The opportunity to submit a recipe for a new product and win £50 in a competition.

·         A cake decorating demonstration at the bakery on Tuesday September 20th.

·         A tasting day at the bakery on Wednesday September 21st as part of the national Big Taste.

"National Craft Bakers' Week is the chance for craft bakers like Luke Evans Bakery to really showcase the skills of our bakers and the quality of the bread, cakes and other products that they make every day," said Luke Evans Bakery managing director David Yates.

"We've been supplying bread and cakes to the people of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for more than 200 years, which is an amazing achievement and one that we are very proud of. We're really looking forward to getting as many people as possible across the community involved in National Craft Bakers' Week and hope that our programme of events features something for everyone."

National Craft Bakers' Week, which is run by the National Association of Master Bakers, is being spearheaded nationally by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

In Derbyshire Luke Evans is throwing open the doors of its bakery at Green Hill Lane, Riddings, on Tuesday 20th September between 9am and 1pm for free cake decorating demonstrations, with a 20% discount on any celebration cake orders for those who attend.

On Wednesday September 21st, visitors are being invited to take part in the national Big Taste event going on all over the country by popping into Luke Evans for a tasting event between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

The bakery is also looking for the most deserving good cause within two miles of its premises to receive a £207 donation from the firm to mark National Craft Bakers' Week, and is inviting applications from charities and other organisations.

It's also running a recipe competition, with the winning entry being put into full production at the bakery and named after the person who put forward the idea. First prize is a £50 voucher to spend on Luke Evans bread and cakes.

Finally, five deserving firms within five miles of the bakery will receive a dozen free cream cakes for elevenses on Friday 23rd September. For competition details and daily offers on products in the shop during National Craft Bakers' Week visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

David's daughter Sarah became the eighth generation of the family to join Luke Evans Bakery when she started work at the bakery last year, and it is believed the bakery is one of the oldest still run by the same family.

Luke Evans Bakery sells direct to the public from its shop in Green Hill Lane, Riddings, and supplies around 300 trade customers, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

Luke Evans Bakery can also make cakes for every occasion… from weddings and birthdays to special anniversaries and retirements.

For more information contact the bakery on 01773 602764.