A SPONGE version of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal left dry dock at Otley bound for a special charity dinner.

The 4ft long cake, complete with iced model aeroplanes and breaking waves, was made at Patisserie Viennoise for the Lord Mayor of Leeds's charity sportsmen's dinner at Leeds Civic Hall.

And at the dinner, it was presented to ship Commander Malcolm Lewis and Lieutenant Martin Midmore.

Otley's Lord Mayor, Councillor Graham Kirkland, said the cake was then taken back to Rosyth in Scotland.

"They're taking the cake to the Ark Royal in Rosyth where it is having a refit for all the crew to have a piece," said Coun Kirkland.

He recently put his seal of approval on Patisserie Viennoise when he opened the Westgate shop's new extension.

And now people going past can look inside and see just how the cakes and chocolate are made.

Mr Backhouse said the Ark Royal cake, made from sponge and sandwiched together with jam and buttercream, was modelled from a poster of the aircraft carrier and took four full days to make.

The grey of the ship was achieved using special cake dyes and the blue waves a variation on the traditional snow scenes used on Christmas cakes.

Lt Midmore and seven of his colleagues stopped off in Otley for a breather while on a four-day charity cycle ride from Portsmouth to Scotland to raise £4,900 for the Lord Mayor's charity the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB).

And while he was in Otley, Lt Midmore cycled down East Chevin Road and clocked up an amazing 52 mph on his speedometer.

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