That is, until she found out she was the only entry.

Officials at her village fete apparently felt her baking just wasn't worthy of a first-class ribbon.

The grandmother, 62, said she was a little taken aback at the decision.

She was let down, in the judges' eyes, by the indentations in the top of her sponge from the oven rack.

Julie Dent, 44, from the competition's organising committee, said: 'The judges had an expectation and I suppose they didn't feel as though it qualified for first place.'

She explained that her baking had once been subject to an equally bizarre decision.

'About 11 years ago I entered a show with some fruit scones. I was the only entrant but I came third,' said Mrs Dent.

'In your own mind you have got a level where you think first place should be. If you don't think something is worth first place, you don't give it first place.'