A CHILD welfare officer in Bradford is among the contestants for this year's The Great British Bake Off.

Sandy, 49, (pictured), who lives and works near Bradford, says baking is her way of showing her close friends and family that she "cares about them".

She is also a volunteer at a school, where she runs a cooking club teaching children from deprived backgrounds to bake on a small budget.

The hit culinary show returns to BBC1 on August 5 for a sixth series.

Last year's winner, Nancy Birtwhistle, had an impressive 13.5 million viewers tune in to see her take the crown.

Returning to the show are judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, and presenting duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.

Other contestants include a former member of Buckingham Palace's Coldstream Guards, a professional musician, a London firefighter, and a female bodybuilder.

Thackley baker Edd Kimber was the show's first winner in 2010. He has since become a successful food writer and regularly makes television appearances.