LOVERS of baked treats got to have their cake and eat it with the first meeting of a new secret society in Bury.

The Clandestine Cake Club, formed in 2010 in Leeds, launched in the borough with Ainsworth professional cake decorator Rainy Williamson at its helm.

A total of 15 sponge-loving ladies met in the ice cream parlour of Arthur Lane Nurseries in Ainsworth to share baking tips and sample the goodies each had brought with them.

Organiser Rainy revealed: “A host of delicious creations and fabulous cakes including salted caramel cake, pecan lemon and lime cake and rose cake were brought to the meeting.

“Most ladies were from Radcliffe, Bury, Tottington and Ainsworth with one lady travelling over from Todmorden!

“Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was lovely to see the beginnings of new friendships — and we even had two new people wanting to join up after enquiring what we were up to!”

The underground move-ment now has more than 170 clubs worldwide with the relaxed meetings are a chance for beginners and experts alike to exchange tips and recipes.

Meetings’ locations are kept a secret until a few days before the event to add to the excitement and anticipation.

“I know how valuable something as simple as tea and cake is to friendship,” said Rainy.

“We all lead such busy existences and unless something is booked in the diary we rarely actually make the time just to sit and chat with friends.”

Cakes brought to meetings must be large enough to slice into at least eight pieces and usually interpret a theme, decided in advance.

For more information about the next meeting of the free monthly group, held at a yet-to-be-divulged covert location, go to: clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/groups/bury/events/