A PIONEERING baker is bringing a spectacular dessert craze to Bury.

The epic 'freakshakes' are the main attraction at the new Lilli Oliver Cake Boutique, in Broad Street, which has become one of the first cafes in Britain to offer the calorie-packed treat.

Shop owner Vedia Glover has seen the mouth-watering desserts, which became an internet sensation after being discovered in Australia last year, prove a huge hit with customers.

She said: "As far as we can see, we are the only place in Bury and one of the only places in all of the North West to start making them. We are definitely pioneering them at the moment, and wanted to set ourselves apart a bit.

"The concept is a vanilla milkshake made with ice cream, which we then pour into a jug that has either chocolate fudge, salted caramel, or strawberry and lemon sauce all around the inside.

"Then we put a donut or a cake on top and decorate it all with marshmallows, sprinkles, biscuits, and all sorts of sweet things.

"I don't know exactly how many calories there are, but when people ask I usually say that I round it up to a cool million.

"They have been really popular so far, especially when it was the Easter holidays.

"We have also started doing salads and a Mediterranean platter to balance things out a bit - I don't want to be known as the lady who ruins all the children's teeth."

The Prestwich-born mum-of-two, who last year launched a charity appeal to help Syrian refugee families, has fulfilled her dream of opening her own shop after years of looking for the right place.

Ms Glover, aged 43, of Overton Close, Radcliffe, added: "Everything we serve is produced locally, and we have a lovely open plan kitchen so that everyone can watch what we are doing.

"It's all going really well. I have had my own business for three or four years now, but was always baking from home.

"We got quite a big following on Facebook and Twitter, so the natural progression was to open our own shop.

"I was always on the lookout for a good location, and fortunately the perfect place came up at the right time.

"I have wanted a shop for about 10 years now and it turns out that the ideal place was right under my nose in Bury."