BAKERS are invited to rustle up hedgehog-themed cakes for an event centred around the spiky species.

HedgeOx campaigner Hugh Warwick is hosting the Hedgehog Day in Witney – a town he named ‘hedgehog central’ for Oxfordshire.

The campaigner known as Hedgehog Hugh revealed at this year’s Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace that a public survey showed Witney was the place to go for hedgehog sightings.

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To celebrate, Mr Warwick is staging the Hedgehog Day at Witney Corn Exchange on Sunday, October 13, 12pm to 5pm.

The event will include craft making, wildlife groups and a Great Hedgehog Bake-Off where competitors will be challenged to create their finest hedgehog-themed cakes – sweet or savoury – for prickly prizes.

Mr Warwick said: “This day will be an opportunity to celebrate all things hedgehog and learn how we can work together to improve their lot across the county.”

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He added: “Hedgehog numbers are in serious decline - 30 per cent in urban areas and 50 per cent in the countryside, just since the turn of the century.

“By raising awareness we can get people to start to make changes in their gardens that will benefit hedgehogs.

“The simplest thing is to make a hole to allow the hedgehog to get in.”