BANBURY cakes, which have been baked in the town for the past 400 years, will continue to be sold there - thanks to former town mayor Tony Carney.

Mr Carney, who owns the Banesberie Coffee Shop in Butcher's Row, and business partner Peter Hogben, of Specialist Catering Services, have bought up the secret and ancient recipe in a bid to save the cake.

Mr Carney told the Oxford Mail: "The cakes have been made for the last 25 years at RS Malcolm Bakeries in the High Street.

"Now Ray Malcolm is retiring and we felt it was important to save the cakes."

The two businessmen have set up a new firm, called Banbury Cake Company, to bake the cakes.

Mr Carney said: "For the time being we are baking them at the premises of RS Malcolm but we are planning to move to new premises in Banbury."

He declined to give any details of the secret filling in the puff-pastry cakes, except to say that it included rum and brandy essences.

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