BAKERS rose to the occasion in a special competition held to raise money for a church targeted by vandals.

St George’s Church in Barrow was packed out as people came to watch teams of pie makers go to head-to-head.

The event was held to raise cash to repair a 160-year-old stained glass window in the church, which last year was damaged by vandals.

Repairing the window is set to cost the church £7,000.

The competition was won by the Crellin Street bakery Deli.sh.

The team’s steak and potato creation beat out other bakes by Broughton Village Hall and Thomas’s Bakery.

Kerry Wodlen, who got married in the church, helped to organise the event after hearing of the damage.

She said: “It lit a fire in my belly and I thought something had to be done.

“The church is such an important part of the community."

Mrs Wodlen said it was “fantastic” that so many people had turned out to support the church.

The competition will help towards finding the remaining money needed to repair the window, which stands at around £5,000 following donations from the community.

Canon Gary Cregeen paid tribute to everyone who had come forward to help so far.

He said: “The response we have seen from people has been amazing.

“We have seen first-hand the fantastic community spirit there is in Barrow.

“With all the support and events like this, something positive has come out of something negative.”

Rev Cregeen said fundraising events at St George’s as well generous anonymous donations had helped the church make progress towards the funding target.

One of the people who reached out to the church following the damage was John Woodcock, the Barrow and Furness MP.

Helping out the judges on the night, he praised the way the community had rallied around the church. He said: “This is a great example of the community pulling together as part of Team Furness and putting party politics to one side to help people.”