A community organisation which has been entertaining local people for almost 80 years is to receive a donation from Luke Evans Bakery to mark National Craft Bakers' Week.

The bakery at Riddings, near Alfreton in Derbyshire, pledged to give one pound for every year it had been running to a local good cause as part of its celebrations for the special week.

Now it has chosen Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company as the beneficiary of the £207 donation.

"Luke Evans Bakery has been a key part of the Derbyshire community for more than 200 years and we are delighted to support a community organisation that also has a long history in the area," said Luke Evans Bakery managing director David Yates.

"National Craft Bakers' Week was an excellent opportunity for us to promote what we do, with a range of different events. We had a number of deserving good causes apply for our donation, but we could only choose one and we decided that Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company was to be the beneficiary. I hope the money will help them to carry on performing and entertaining in the future."  

The organisation, which is self-funding, relies entirely on sponsorship from local companies, voluntary contributions and fund-raising activities to help produce its shows.

Vice chair Kate Viles said: "We are very grateful to Luke Evans Bakery for the donation, which will be a big help with our next show Carousel, which we have already started rehearsals for. The show will be performed at Alfreton Grange Arts College in April 2012. For this show we require a group of children to play the 'snow children', therefore we will be involving children and adults of all ages from our local community."

During National Craft Bakers' Week, run by the National Association of Master Bakers, Luke Evans Bakery also donated free cream cakes for elevenses to several local companies including Granwood Flooring, Riddings, Martin Harris Hair and Beauty, Leabrooks, ETS Tyres, Riddings, David Nieper, Alfreton for their Macmillan Coffee Morning, and Blooming Nails and Beauty, South Normanton.

Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804 and now employs the eighth generation of the family, sells direct to the public from its shop in Green Hill Lane, Riddings, and supplies around 300 trade customers across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, 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 stunning cakes for every occasion… from weddings and birthdays to special anniversaries and retirements.