FRIENDS of 20 years, Annie Drew and Cathie Sanders, are celebrating the launch of a new cake business venture in Calne.

The Flying Pig Cake Emporium had its official opening last Wednesday with special guest Christine Wallace, Great British Bake Off 2013 quarter finalist, cutting the ribbon on the new studio.

The new business will design and create bespoke celebration and wedding cakes, cupcakes and iced biscuits for a variety of special occasions as well as offering decorating classes.

Cathie Sanders said: “The opening was brilliant, were absolutely overwhelmed with how well it went and Christine Wallace was wonderful, it was better than we could have hoped.

“Annie and I have been friends for 20 years and it’s been a dream of ours for a couple of years. We were going to start as home bakers but the opportunity to get the property arose and here we are, hence the name we didn’t think pigs would fly.

“The premises are just beautiful, we are so thrilled. Church Street is an up and coming area in Calne we want to be part of that.”

More than 30 people squeezed into the emporium, which will be running decorating classes, to celebrate the opening.

Peter Vujakovic, president of the Calne Chamber of Commerce, said: “If you look at Church Street and St Mary’s Court, they are areas that are gems in the town.

“I think it’s great to have someone offering something different, it grows the balance of the town. It gives people another reason to walk up Church Street and I wish them well.”