A BAKE-OFF challenge has been organised to raise funds for the family of a Crewe Alex Academy youngster who is fighting cancer.

Ashton Hulme, Crewe's under-12 keeper, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and is undergoing his second round of chemotherapy treatment.

Carrie Slater, who owns Enzo in Nantwich, is hoping to hit a £1,500 fundraising target after devoting the restaurant's annual bake-off event to the cause.

Customers are being invited to bake a cake or delicacy and bring it into the premises on Saturday, April 3 where it will be assessed by a team of judges.

Carrie's son, Oscar, a member of the Alex Academy has played with Ashton many times.

His plight has touched her family and many others. A JustGiving appeal launched in support is nearing the £30,000 landmark and there has been backing from high-profile names from across the world of sport.

Carrie, who has also set up a raffle, said: "This fundraiser has an even more emotional pull for us this year.

"We've run it before as part of the Nantwich Food Festival, but we want to do it to raise as much money as we can for Ashton's family.

"We want as many entries as possible. So if people could bake their cakes and bring them in we will sell them on. The event will finish when all the cakes are sold."

Baked cakes or 12 individual cakes, if people so wish, can be brought into Enzo from 10am on the day. The bigger delicacies will be cut up into 12 pieces by staff.

An event stall has been set up outside the restaurant and the cakes will be sold to the public from there, while a raffle with some fantastic prizes, including a rare PS5 games console and signed Crewe Alex shirt will be drawn.

There are three opportunities to claim a prize with rewards going to a 'showstopper', an under-13/junior entry and the cake that sells out the quickest. Prizes are £40 Enzo vouchers.

Entries to the Bake-off can be made via the Enzo website here along with the purchase of the raffle tickets.

Other fundraising announced for Ashton recently includes a sponsored run which will see Alex Academy staff take in a 35-mile circuit of the local stadia, starting at Gresty Road and visiting Stoke and Port Vale on Sunday, May 23.

You can find that appeal here.