TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and celebrity chef James Tanner were in Tidworth on Tuesday to help launch bake sale with a difference.

Help for Heroes is holding a Colossal Cake Sale that is set to raise thousands of pounds to support soldiers injured while fighting for their country.

Daybreak presenter Kelly and the show’s resident chef Tanner were at the personnel recovery centre at Tedworth House to encourage would-be bakers to slip on their aprons and have a go.

Last year more than 700 people across the UK helped to raise £164,000 by baking cakes and selling them, and the charity is hoping to surpass that figure when the event takes place between Saturday, April 20 to Sunday, May 5 this year.

Kelly, a patron of the charity, said: “Considering some of the crazy fundraising things I’ve done in the past, this should be quite easy. “Hopefully I will able to rustle up something tasty. What I like about this idea is that it’s so unique and it enables everyone to get involved. It’s really interesting and fun.

“Making cakes and raising money can also be used as an excuse to get together with friends.”

From a traditional Victoria sponge to tricky chocolate éclairs, every sort of delicious delight can help to raise funds for the charity’s work supporting the rehabilitation of injured servicemen and women.

As well as their visit to Tidworth, Kelly and Tanner also stopped in at Wellington Academy, taking a cookery class with students and injured soldiers.

Help for Heroes co-founder Emma Parry said it’s hard to believe that such a simple idea has become so popular.

“It’s quite amazing really to think how many people got involved last year,” she said. “The cakes can be simple or as complicated as people want them to be.

“Hopefully we can double last year’s figure, and inspire more people to get involved.”

To register for the cake sale, visit helpforheroes.org.uk/bake-a-cake-2013.