WHILE some people have been lounging around during lockdown a Warminster schoolgirl has been practicing her baking skills to raise over £618 for charity.

Jessica Williams, 10, has for many years collected money with her mum Amanda on flag days for Cancer Research UK.

She annually holds a stall at a charity garden party for Cancer Research hosted by her nanny Gillian Wakelin-Smith in Warminster.

With a very close relative currently undergoing gruelling chemotherapy treatment and extra time on her hands, Jessica, with a little help from mum and dad Richard Williams, planned a ‘socially distanced’ driveway pop-up shop selling fudge and cookies for the important cause.

Mrs Williams, 40, of Minster View, said: “Jessica has a real love for baking, encouraged by her grandfather Robert Williams from the age of three.

"She now cooks regularly for her friends, neighbours and family.”

The keen baker decided to run a stall at her home called ‘Fudgey Glory and Cookie Heaven’ and planned her flavours and varieties.

To tempt her friends and family, she prepared a reduced menu which she offered to deliver on Sunday, June 14.

After posting images of her produce, Jessica was inundated with pre-orders ready for her pop-up shop opening last Friday, June 19.

“Jessica was responsible for taking the orders, calculating volumes and batches required as well as baking the required goods and loved every minute of it,” Mrs Williams said.

Her mum surprised Jessica with her very own branded stickers and pink stripy paper bags to encourage a professional approach.

On the day of her driveway sale, dad Richard set up a gazebo, while Jessica drew socially distancing marks on the pavement for her queue and prepared the signage.

Jessica’s stall opened at 3pm and she had a continual flow of customers for just under two hours during which she sold 14 batches of fudge and 15 batches of cookies.

Jessica said: “We sold every last crumb and raised £618.19 to give to the Warminster branch of Cancer Research UK.”

Mrs Williams added: “Not only has this event supported a very worthy cause, it has also comforted our family during a worrying time.

“It has also provided Jess with a great sense of purpose helping her mental wellbeing during lockdown.”

Now Jessica, who is a Year 9 pupil at the Minster Primary School, wants to be a chef when she grows up and to run her own restaurant.