FORMER Wallingford School teacher Angie Johnson is looking to show children the joys of food with a new cookbook.

Ms Johnson, otherwise known as Mrs Bun the Baker, taught cookery at the school for 12 years before she left to set up her own business.

Now she teaches cookery at classes in Cholsey Pavilion and has published her cookbook for children entitled Baking with Mrs Bun the Baker.

Mrs Johnson, 45, said: "The recipes have been tried and tested in the Mrs Bun the Baker kitchen in Cholsey by my regular cooking classes for all ages.

"The recipes are easy to follow, simple to make, and can be completed in just over an hour."

Mrs Johnson used to live in Wallingford and now lives in Didcot with her husband Nick, and son Freddie, 10.

She wrote the book last year, got 500 printed, and now only has 170 copies left to sell.

Recipes in the self-published book include Gruffalo Crumble, featuring tinned pears, apples, plums and a crumble mixture, and a short-crust pastry Homity pie, filled with sweet potatoes, parsley and creme fraiche.

Mrs Johnson added: "I call them hobless recipes because all the preparation work can be done on the table top before the dishes can be put in the oven.

"Children can do a lot of the work themselves - there is nothing dangerous involved - but parents obviously need to be aware of what their children are doing.

"One mum told me 'I'm a useless cook' but she tried the broccoli tart recipe - I call it picnic pie in the book - and she was amazed how well it turned out.

"The recipes are easy-to-understand and that's good for adults as well as children.

"I have tried to include recipes that are healthy but there are one of two tasty treats in there as well, including cheesecake, perhaps that is not the healthiest recipe in the book."

Mrs Johnson added that the recipes would inspire confidence in children and toddlers, helping their dexterity, concentration, counting, weighing and measuring skills.

She said: "The recipes are easy to follow, simple to make, and can be completed in just over an hour."

Copies of Baking with Mrs Bun the Baker, costing £8.99, are available from Wallingford Bookshop, The Bookstore in Abingdon, and via the website mrsbunthebaker.net