A DORSET charity is urging people to get cooking and join in The Great Dorset Bake Sale.

Diverse Abilities Plus, the only disability charity in the county that supports children and adults and their families throughout their life, is behind the event, which takes place across Dorset between May 7 and 13.

It is hoped the initiative will raise thousands of pounds to help the charity’s essential work supporting those with profound physical and learning disabilities.

Famous Dorset festival The Dorset Knob Throwing & Food Festival, is holding its own bake sale on Sunday to make the start of the week-long event, which is hoping to achieve more than 100 bake sales and coffee mornings across the county.

To date, a third of this figure has been reached and the charity is now continuing to appeal for businesses, schools, clubs, families and individuals to sign up.

The idea behind The Great Dorset Bake Sale follows on from the charity’s recipe book, Scrumptious Home Baking, which includes recipes from chefs, celebrities and key supporters of the charity.

Sadie Smith, a fundraiser for Diverse Abilities Plus, and parent of a child with disabilities, is the driving force behind the project.

She said: “The Great Dorset Bake Sale is a fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds for a local charity, especially for keen bakers out there.

“We just need you to get baking and then hold a bake sale or coffee morning – anyone can get involved from businesses, schools, clubs and families to even individuals. “We are asking anyone who enjoys baking to please help us raise some much needed funds to continue to provide round the clock care and support.”

Children’s television presenter Chris Jarvis, who contributed a recipe to Scrumptious Home Baking, was among those present at the launch last week at Julia’s Kitchen in Poole to enjoy a slice of cake and promote the benefits of baking.

To take part in the Great Dorset Bake Sale and receive a fundraising pack visit the charity’s website diverseabilitiesplus.org.

You can email <&bh"mailto:sadie.smith@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk">sadie.smith@ diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk<&eh> or call 01202 718266.