Violet Dunn's neighbours call her "the cake lady" because in the last eight years the 72-year-old has made 723 cakes for charity.

In her sheltered housing in East Preston, Mrs Dunn can always be found elbow deep in currants and flour, baking her latest creation to raise funds for the needy.

But her cakes do not always end up being raffled at charity fetes. Several have been served up on the tables of royalty.

On the Queen Mother's 100th birthday, Mrs Dunn was asked to make a cake and paint a picture of a royal lifeboat with food dye on the icing.

Her Majesty tucked in on board the lifeboat as it sailed around the Castle of Mey in Scotland.

Mrs Dunn's cakes have been sent to destinations as far flung as Argentina, Paris and the Isle of Man.

A mystery millionaire recently commissioned her to make a cake for the Duke of Edinburgh with a picture of a three-masted schooner painted on.

In the past, Mrs Dunn has been asked to paint Judith Chalmers, Sir Norman Wisdom and the Queen Mother on her iced fruitcakes.

Mrs Dunn, who used to be a cordon bleu chef, spends so much money buying ingredients and paying for her cakes to be sent recorded delivery that she has little cash left to indulge herself.

However, through her selfless hard work Mrs Dunn has raised £21,000 for charity.

She said: "I started making cakes in 1993 because I broke my wrist and wanted something to do until I got better.

"My first cake went really well and I was told I would make a fortune. I didn't want to make a fortune, though, so I thought I'd make them to be raffled for charities.

"I have spent about £6,000 in postage alone over the past eight years but it's worth it when I get the letters of thanks. My husband Frank and I can't afford to go out, drink or smoke.

"We didn't even have a colour television until last week because we couldn't afford one. Then I was given the Local Hero Award by Fred Dinenage of Meridian TV and they bought me one. It's wonderful.

"You can't get more dedicated than me. I spend all day and all night doing cakes. They look so good when they're finished it's a shame to cut them."