A NORTH Ayrshire bakery's tattie scones have been judged the very best in Scotland.

Irvine's Bakery in Beith took home the highly sought-after prize in the prestigious Scottish Baker of the Year Awards at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow at the weekend.

Thery also collected a best in region and national bronze award for their toffee empire biscuit, a regional bronze award for their morning rolls, and a regional silver award for their chocolate orange scone.

A spokesperson for Irvine's said: "We are absolutely thrilled with our award. It's one thing to have confidence in our products, but to have that validation from both customers and industry experts is truly the icing on the cake."

With nearly 600 entries from more than 60 bakers across the nation, the competition was fierce.

Lesley Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Bakers, which organises the annual event, said, "The level of competition this year was exceptionally high, making each win a significant accomplishment.

"Each entry was meticulously evaluated based on appearance, baking quality, and taste."

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The awards aim to showcase Scotland’s best bakes, with categories including scones, loaves, savoury items, morning rolls, individual cakes, biscuits, French and Danish pastries, and a range of gluten-free options.

The competition culminates in the prestigious Scottish Baker of the Year title, celebrating the pinnacle of baking achievement in Scotland.

Michelle Phillips, the newly installed president of Scottish Bakers, commented, "All winners should feel incredibly proud of their achievements.

"We anticipate that these well-deserved accolades will not only honour their hard work but also contribute significantly to their business growth. 

"Congratulations to all our deserving winners."

For more information about the winners and the competition, visit www.bakeroftheyear.scot.