A cake shop in Morecambe is proving to be the cream of the crop after winning one award and being shortlisted for another.
Carter's in Torrisholme was awarded Cake Bakery of the Year in Lancashire in the 2025/26 Manchester and North West Prestige Awards.
The family-run shop was also named as a finalist in the Small Business Awards - putting them among the best bakerys in the entire UK.
It's been an emotional time for owner Alana Carter-Greef, as the award success came just days after she and her husband - and fellow baker - Zak got married.
Zak and Alana are pictured below.
And as Alana revealed in this interview, the shop also recently made a brave decision to turn down a deal with the world famous Selfridges!
LISTEN to Alana Carter-Greef talking to Beyond Radio
Alana said she was "lost for words" at the award win and finalist place.
She said to win the Small Business Award would be "phenomenal, life-changing, in terms of pride in what we've done over the past eight years."
Alana began the business from her home bakery in Overton and then opened a shop in Meeting House Lane, Lancaster, working alongside her mum Theresa Riley.
When they outgrew the Lancaster bakery, the family took on the current premises at 353 Lancaster Road (below) around two years ago.
"It's just gone from strength to strength, really," said Alana.
"It's been crazy, there's me, my husband and my mum, and our four wonderful front of house staff."
On the awards, she said: "I didn't expect any of this!"
Alana also explained why she decided not to supply her cakes to Selfridges in the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
"It's something that doesn't come to many of us, especially in such a small town," she said.
"But once we got there, did the interview, and suddenly I just thought - do I really want this?
"This is my little baby. Do I want to take that into a corporate setting?
"So we politely declined that. There were no hard feelings.
"I wondered if I'd made the right decision.
"But all this (award success) has come and I thought yes, I did make the right decision to keep it as a small family business, and just feed our community and raise money for the hospice."
Carters has raised thousands for St John's Hospice in Lancaster, including when Alana took part in the hospice's 'Jail and Bail' event last year.
Alana and Zak do all the baking at Carters between them.
Theresa, known as Mama C, looks after the savoury side - and the front of house team is Chloe, Rachael, Lilly and Ginny.
Carters is known for its cheesecakes, part of its range of luxury homemade bakes and cakes, with an additional deli counter.
The team will now be attending two awards events later this year, in Leeds and Birmingham.
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