Bake Off star Flora Shedden has started work on a new bakery in her home town of Dunkeld.
The 20-year-old, who was a runner-up in the 2015 series of the hit BBC contest, took to social media to confirm her plans for an artisan outlet.
The former St Andrews University student has taken over an old High Street newsagents, which she hopes to have fully renovated by the spring.
Revealing her new venture on Instragram, she wrote: “Underneath our new flat is a wee, run down shop – soon to be my very own bakery.
“Opening in Spring, it sits right in the heart of Dunkeld where we will sell bread, cakes, pastries and all manner of foodie bits and pieces.”
Happy New Year all! Thrilled to announce that in 2017 I will be opening a wee artisan bakery! Lots to do before then though… pic.twitter.com/K0ggRG0dBh
— Flora Shedden (@florashedden) January 1, 2017
The plan has already attracted interest from fans all over the world, with many requesting internet sales.
Flora said: “There’s a lot of work to be done, but if it all goes well, we could be open by Easter.
“It’s an old newsagents shop and it will have to be completely gutted. It’s going to be an open plan kitchen area, selling mostly take-away food, but there will be some seating.”
She said: “I’d looked at other places in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but I really wanted to do something here in Dunkeld. It will hopefully be my way of giving something back to the town.”
Flora moved into her new flat just before Christmas.
She has been working on the bakery project for several months. Flora said in August, last year: “I’ve been a waitress, I can cook and bake, and I’ve always loved meeting people. Much of what I do now is on social media, so it would make a lovely change.”
She added: “I’ve taken time out from university and, while I know 20 is quite young to start a business, now really is the time to go for it.”
Flora is also preparing to publish her first book, Gatherings. The highly anticipated recipe collection will hit the shops later this month.
She signed with publishers Mitchell Beazley, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, after a scrum to secure her signature.
Flora put her St Andrews University studies on hold to concentrate on writing the book, which is released in hardback on January 26. She said its the first time her writing has been published since she edited her primary school newsletter, aged nine.