The smashing of gingerbread roofs was enjoyed by hundreds of pupils in the town last week.

The now annual tradition of baking, icing, decorating – and then demolishing – a fairytale land of gingerbread at Katherine Semar Infant School in Saffron Walden is led by parent Catherine Kelly, whose daughter Phoebe, five, was one of the lucky Year 1 pupils who get to help with the creation.

“I try and do something different with them each year,” Catherine, who runs Catherine’s Cake Tin Hire, told the Reporter.

“This year it links with their topic on fairy tales, and one on houses,” she said, gesturing to the mass of awesomely constructed roofs, with white chocolate shavings, chocolate fingers and other delights decorating the houses.

Hansel & Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin and the Three Billy Goats Gruff were among the edible fairy tales created by Year 1 pupils, who took turns to go through the different cooking processes in groups of five.

The costs of creating the masterpieces were covered by a number of local businesses, including Ridgeons, who provided the boards for the gingerbread, Beauty, Bump & Baby, Catherine’s Cake Tin Hire, The Golden Butterfly, Kevin Henry, Nisa on Cromwell Road, Pritti Ansome, B&R Carpets and Tesco.

For more information about Catherine’s business, go to facebook.com/makeyourowncakes