THOUSANDS of shoppers and fans packed out a North-East shopping centre as baking doyenne Mary Berry paid a visit to the region. 

The Great British Bake Off judge was at Teesside Park, in Stockton, to perform the honours at the opening of the new £4.5m Barker and Stonehouse store on Saturday.

Shoppers queued patiently for their chance to look around the building, designed and built by McLuckie Projects of North Yorkshire.

For Barker and Stonehouse, it’s a return to the company’s roots – it opened its first store in Stockton in 1946.

Managing director James Barker said: “The opening of our new store and head office is truly exciting for us, and we were delighted to welcome along so many people to our day of celebration.

“Having Mary Berry to perform our official opening really put the icing on the cake – so to speak! – and added to the enjoyment of everyone who paid us a visit.

“On a serious note, the opening of the store is the culmination of years of planning and months of building – and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”

Barker and Stonehouse employs more than 350 staff – with about 60 working in the new Stockton store.

Mary Berry said she was delighted to cut the cake to declare the store open, and was happy to meet so many visitors.