BAKERS across Bury can get a slice of the action with the launch of a covert cake society.

The Clandestine Cake Club, formed in 2010 in Leeds, is an underground movement which now has more than 170 clubs worldwide.

Rainy Williamson, aged 44, of Bury Old Road, Ainsworth, has run a cake-decorating business for five years and is organising the first Bury branch of the now-famous initiative.

“I tried to get a local group started around 18 months ago, but there was little interest,” she said.

“Since then, TV and media coverage of baking has motivated bakers — I know there are a lot of keen people out there who are desperate to chat and make new cakeloving friends.”

Rainy, who began cakedecorating 12 years ago, said the relaxed meetings are a chance for beginners and experts alike to exchange tips and recipes in a noncompetitive environment.

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

“Our lives are all planned with seemingly every detail shared on Facebook and Twitter so keeping the venue a secret adds to the excitement and anticipation.

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

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

Rainy said Clandestine Cake Club members range from teens to the elderly with plenty of men as well as women involved.

“Groups meet to share skills, learn and support — not judge,” she said.

There are no membership fees, no commitments, no profiteering, no selling, no competitiveness, no obligations — how refreshing is that?”

The first meeting of the free monthly group will be on June 30, at a yet-to-be-divulged secret location.

For more information go to clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/ groups/bury/events