Get ready to increase your carb and sugar intake because bakers across south east London and north Kent are getting ready to celebrate National Craft Bakers’ Week (September 29 to October 5).

The purpose of the week is to encourage to Love Your Baker – and there are plenty of reasons to fall in love with the bakeries all over the News Shopper area.

H Hirst and Sons has three shops – in Blackheath, Dulwich and East Dulwich – and has been owned by the same family since it was established in 1898.

Current owner and granddaughter of founder Herman Hirsch, Lauren Evans, said: “I think bakeries are part of community and they help provide that sense of community.

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“It’s the whole small shop experience – you can walk in and you probably know the staff and they probably know you. A lot of our staff know our customers, it’s a personal experience.”

Craft Bakers’ Week was ‘really, really important’ she said.

In order to tempt people in, the store will have plenty of samples and offers during the week.

“A lot of people do not know we have a working bakery here. They have got so used to the model where things are bought in. A lot of people are brought up just on supermarkets, we have to try to tempt them in.

“Hopefully they will when they taste the quality you get when you have made things on a small scale then they will be converted,” she said.

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Lauren Evans at H Hirst and Sons

H Hirst and Sons made traditional breads and cakes, with some modern twists.

In order to inspire you to get along to your local bakery, News Shopper went on the hunt for some of the area’s more unusual and amazing cakes and bakes.

If you’ve spotted something that should be included, tweet @JimNewsShopper or e-mail jim.palmer@london.newsquest.co.uk and we’ll add it in.

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Bearstead Baking Co put a different spin on cheesecake with this crazy creation. Go to bearsteadbaking.co.uk

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This awesome cake bag and the fox below come with either chocolate sponge and chocolate ganache butter, lemon drizzle or vanilla sponge with jam and buttercream. Daisy Cakes’ Naz said it took between four and five hours to make the bag, which costs £145. Go to daisycakes.co.uk

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Daisy Cakes’ fox won a gold award at Cake International 2013, and it’s no wonder. He’s made entirely from cake and costs £165. He took a long time to craft, with his head and muzzle alone taking around two hours and it took even longer to paint him. Go to daisycakes.co.uk

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“We can make anything out of cake,” said Daisy Cakes’ owner Naz. And she’s proved it by crafting her own father! This 2ft tall cake was made for her dad. The head and torso were all made from cake. Naz admits it took her days and she wouldn’t know how to price it. Go to daisycakes.co.uk

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You won’t get the wedding blues with this stunner from Bluebell Kitchen. Go to bluebellkitchen.co.uk

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Created by Lisa Potter at Potter's Cake Boutique in Orpington, this sweet treat looks way tastier than any Big Mac I've every eaten. The fries were biscuits and the cola drink contained isomalt ice cubes. Go to potterscakeboutique.com

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Argh! Another Potter's Cake Boutique creation, we bet this pirate isn't a rotten scoundrel. Lisa said: "The pirate in the barrel is still a real favourite of mine as the pirate was based on the birthday boy himself, I think it has bundles of 'cute' factor.  It was a wonderful cake created for a wonderful family." Go to potterscakeboutique.com

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When Jake asked for money for his birthday, we'd wager he didn't anticipate anything this sweet. This cake was created by Sponge Kitchens, which has outlets in Beckenham, Hayes and Downham. Go spongekitchens.co.uk

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Family-run Sponge Kitchens have been in the Borough since 1938, making beauties like this. Go to spongekitchens.co.uk