Baking With Melanie features recipes from the Craigard Tea Room owner – some over 100 years old – and some of the cake entries from the 2014 Scottish Baking Awards, which she founded.

Speaking to the Advertiser about the appeal of the new book, Melanie Andrews, who was born and bred in Helensburgh, said: “It’s a good way of bringing my recipes out and advertising myself and the Scottish Baking Awards.

“My first cake that I made was a Christmas cake and it’s actually in the book.

“I was eight when I first made it so that’s in the book and that’s how I began.” Family has always played an important role in Melanie’s career.

Her gran taught her how to bake from the age of eight, and many of the recipes she learnt feature in the book.

Melanie added: “In the book I dedicated a foreword to my gran because she inspired me.” With the release of Baking With Melanie, the master baker can tick another achievement off a list of many in recent times.

The Scottish Baking Awards have just merged with The Cake and Bake Show which will kick off in Harrogate in June before touring to London and Manchester, culminating with the inaugural Edinburgh show at the Royal Highland Centre from October 30 to November 1.

Speaking of the merger with the Cake and Bake Show, Melanie said: “I am a professional master baker and they wanted a high profile Scottish baker to give impact to the show this year.” Melanie has now started a busy period of judging for the Cake and Bake Show and will be in charge of assessing every nomination and shortlisting the finalists.

She said anybody wishing to enter could do so by visiting www.thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk.

Melanie works across Scotland to regulate, monitor and award Scottish Baking Awards and also holds an Ambassador for Scottish Tourism award, which she was awarded by Visit Scotland.

She started her professional career aged 21 by forming Craigard Catering.

The mother-of-three went on to open the Craigard Tea Room in Loch Long, Arrochar, before opening a further two tearooms in Helensburgh, with the remaining tearoom situated on Sinclair Street.

Melanie has had a busy time balancing her career and family but still found time to tick off another ambition last year when she met her baking idols Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood whilst giving a master baking class at the BBC Good Food Bake and Cake Show in London.

Melanie said: “They heard of the Scottish Baking Awards and I just think they wanted a bit of Scottish input. It was quite a great experience.” Baking with Melanie is on sale from the Craigard Tea Room on 51 Sinclair Street and is also available online from Amazon.