Cupcakes become favourite recipe for a perfect birthday party

Once a bouncy castle or a game of pass-the-parcel was enough to entertain children at a birthday party but now parents are hiring cooks to teach youngsters how to bake and decorate cupcakes.

Kerry Hammond quit her career to make cupcakes for a living after being inspired by her five-year-old daughter Amelia.

The former NHS occupational therapist saw how much Amelia enjoyed baking and realised it would work well at children's parties.

Now her company- the Little Cake Kitchen - is becoming popular with parents looking for something new.

Mrs Hammond, 33, said: "It was seeing how much Amelia enjoyed baking that made me think it would work. She is pretty good in terms of making cupcakes. She's been doing it since she was one."

She said that since she started running the parties - in which children make and decorate six cupcakes to take home - full-time a month ago she has been inundated with interest.

Although she lives in Baldock, Hertfordshire, most of Mrs Hammond's clients live in London and range from small children to teenagers and adults.