An aspiring young baker has put her skills to the test for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, by making more than 250 cupcakes and selling them to help do more for the hospital’s sick kids.

As well as a budding future Bake Off star, seven-year-old Penelope Nugent, from Blackheath, fancies herself as something of an entrepreneur and during the school holidays, she asked her parents Hannah and David, if she could bake some cakes to sell.

With her mum and dad on board, Penelope put on her thinking cap to decide which good cause would benefit her sweet scheme. As the proud big sister to four-year-old Felicity, and five-month-old Jemima, Penelope remembered how her mum had said their family was blessed to have three happy and healthy girls. It was that that inspired Penelope to choose Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, to help children and families less fortunate than hers.

Penelope began promoting her baked goods with posters wherever she could, and with Hannah’s help, even did a call out at school and church for leftover ingredients and sprinkles to help her cause. Before long her pleas were answered, with some kind friends even donating bags of flour for her mission. Penelope then popped on her apron and got started, baking dozens of cakes every day for a week.

Penelope’s tasty treats went down a storm with her school friends and teachers, fellow church goers and even the local postman, who were all thrilled to learn about her baking bonanza for charity, and happy to contribute their pounds to the final fundraising total of £225.

Penelope said: “Me and my sisters are lucky to be healthy, but lots of people aren’t, so I made my cupcakes to help the poorly children at the hospital. I am really pleased that I raised so much money. I had lots of fun and the sprinkles were my favourite bit!”

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Our hospital is somewhat of an institution in the city, and we’re so proud to mean so much to so many families, even if they’ve never had to pay us a visit.

“Penelope did such a fantastic job with her cake bake and the incredible amount she raised for us is testament to her brilliant baking skills. Her donation will go towards helping us continue supporting the incredible work of our NHS heroes, who go above and beyond for our sick kids every day.”