A POPULAR cake shop in Weardale is celebrating its first anniversary after opening its doors last April.

Fondant and Apron Strings, in Stanhope, opened on April 5, 2014, and has made cakes for dozens of weddings, birthdays, businesses and special occasions, including for boy band Collabro.

Shop owner Lee Majhen-Todd set up the business with her husband Gavin, after the pair moved to Stanhope from Ohio in the USA.

She said: “I’d learnt many skills in the US and I wanted to put them into practise. We were looking for a village where the shop could become a hub for the local community and we fell in love with Stanhope.”

Fondant and Apron Strings is based in the Durham Dales Visitor Centre where locals and tourists can drop in for a sweet treat between 10am and 5pm every day.

“We have become very popular with people who come to the nearby caravan park and it’s so lovely when they pop in to say hello.

“For me it’s all about being a part of those special occasions and sharing those milestones with people.”

The shop also sells gift baskets starting from under £10 and ready-mixed recipe bags for cakes and cookies.

“We already run cake decorating classes and children’s parties and they are so much fun, we are hoping to organise more of those this year,” Mrs Majhen-Todd added.

For more information visit fondantandapronstrings.com