'Flawless' Nadiya Hussain was a worthy winner of the sixth series of the Great British Bake Off, according to our Cumbrian food expert.

Bake Off fan and MD of Hawkshead Relish, Maria Whitehead, said that Nadiya was a deserved winner.

She said that the emotional ending to the show - which saw all three finalists and judge Mary Berry in tears - showed how powerful food can be, benefitting the artisan food industry. 

Nadiya, 30, from Leeds, baked a "big fat British wedding cake" adorned with jewels from her own wedding day as the showstopper in Wednesday's final. 

Fellow finalist Ian Cumming faltered when he forgot to add sugar to the dough of his spiced buns for the signature bake, whilst Tamal Ray again struggled with timing.

Mrs Whitehead said: "I am delighted to see Nadiya win she was so lacking in confidence but was flawless in her execution of each challenge tonight - the tears flowed everywhere even Mary Berry was emotional which just shows how much it matters.

"It's not just baking it's showing that ordinary people are capable of doing something extraordinary - in the end its powerful viewing and gets people interested in the family - cooking and entertaining at home which has to be a good thing for anyone in the artisan food industry.

"Nadiya has grown immensely. I thought she wouldn't stay in at first, but she has stayed calm and collected, and very determined."

Lisa Wheatcroft, owner the Sweet Dream Cake Company, also initially thought Nadiya might not have survived the first few weeks. 

She added: "Nadiya had to claw it back a few times. 

"She had the edge because she could do the technical stuff well, but could also be spectacular."

Ms Wheatcroft, who also owns The Bakehouse, a bakery in Carlisle, says that interest in artisan baking is still on the rise with bread sales doubling in the last year. 

She is even selling recipes from the Bake Off that she tried out herself.