A woman baked a massive 6ft cake depicting a nurse hugging Santa, to thank NHS staff for their work on the frontlines during the pandemic.
Rosie Dummer, 53, spent two weeks painstakingly preparing the incredible cake, which served up 1,200 portions and weighed in at more than 30 stone.
She was asked to prepare a cake for Channel 5's Amazing Cakes and Bakes, which will air later this month, and wanted to create a fitting tribute to the heroic frontline staff.
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The mum-of-four said she completed the cake in 'record time' after spending up to 16 hours a day moulding, crafting and sculpting the stunning cake, over a period of two weeks.
The 6ft tall creation features a life-size Santa sharing a wholesome embrace with a nurse.
The chocolate cake - titled 'A Hug for Christmas' - is soaked with orange syrup and each of its 17 layers has a chocolate orange frosting.
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The dessert has about 360,000 calories in, and was presented to staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital on 4 December, feeding 1200 members of staff.
Rosie, from Manchester, said: "This year has been such a strange and difficult year for everyone - but the NHS staff have been absolute heroes through it all.
"We all used to clap on Thursdays and in the last few months we've all been trying to get back to some sort of normality - but they've still been saving lives on the front line.
"They haven't stopped and I feel like it's important to remind ourselves of all they've done and to thank them.
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"I'm thrilled it made people feel emotional - we titled it 'A Hug for Christmas' and I think this applies to everyone. I think we all need a big hug.
"It was my mum's birthday on Saturday, and I just started thinking about how lovely it would be to hug her.
"I think we all feel a little bit helpless sometimes, because we can't directly help these nurses or hospital staff.
"But I want to help in the only way I know how - with some time and a bit of icing. I just want to say thank you."
Rosie only started baking after she left the army, where she was the first female helicopter pilot in the British military, as she wanted to make cakes for her family.
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She said this cake was the most tricky one she's attempted so far - which left her working until 4am on some nights.
She said: "Everything but the legs is cake - as no one wants to eat anything that's been so close to the ground.
"It's one of the most tricky and difficult cakes I've ever baked. It was so nerve wracking.
"Before you take it out, you just don't know how it will turn out - but I'm so happy with how it came out.
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"I couldn't push it because it was so heavy. I had multiple grown men help me get it out - it weighed more than two rugby players."
Andy Ennis, chief operating officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, added: "We were delighted with Rosie's kind gesture. It has put such a smile on people's faces after what has been a tough year for our staff.
"The cake was absolutely incredible, and also very tasty! Thank you, Rosie."
The cake will be featured on a Christmas episode of Amazing Cakes and Bakes on Channel 5 on 12 December.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: UK News, Interesting