GREAT British Bake Off fans are biting their nails as they have just one day left to find out if a Sussex-born contestant could take the crown.

Jane Beedle has been described as the 'secret assassin' of the show and could be victorious in tomorrow's final. During the series she has been known for her competitive streak but she much prefers to be seen as the mother hen of the tent.

The 61-year-old, who was born in Hastings, has betting odds of 2/1 to win and is up against the favourite, 31-year-old PE teacher Candice Brown (11/10) and 25-year-old engineer Andrew Smyth (3/1).

Jane is one of two talented Sussex hopefuls to battle it out this week in cookery contests. Michael Bremner, the owner and head chef of 64 Degrees in Brighton, is hoping to win the Great British Menu.

Jane, a landscape designer, who now lives in Beckenham in Kent, was once learning the tricks of the trade from her grandfather who owned a bakery in Hastings.

Earlier in the series she created a showstopper in his honour making a gingerbread bake in the shape of Old Town fisherman huts, a boat and a beach during biscuit week. Contestants had been asked to create a piece at least 30cm tall which reflected a period of their life. She dubbed it the "leaning tower of Hastings" when she battled with soft gingerbread after struggling to get the consistency right.

She was off to a strong start, winning the star baker title in the first episode of the series after praise for her lemon and poppyseed drizzle cake. But she has also struggled when a three tier floral cake did not go according to plan.

She lamented the loss of contestant Selasi Gbormittah from the tent last week describing him as "one of the kindest, loveliest people" she had ever met. She also said she was "hugely privileged" to reach the final and was "delighted" to be there with two "amazing people" who she called her good friends.

She has been reliving each episode as it airs on television with her family and continues to bake - posting pictures of her creations online.

Some 15 million viewers are expected to tune in on Wednesday to watch the final of the seventh BBC series at 8pm. It will be the last episode of the show ever to air in its current format after Channel 4 bought the licence for the Love Productions-created programme.