HERE'S a massive mix-up - all to help our Hospice 2000 Appeal!

The ingredients for a giant cake to celebrate Let's Party Day on Saturday, July 1, have been safely delivered, thanks to John Robertshaw, of Ainsty Bakery, Boroughbridge Road, York.

John has first-hand knowledge of the work of St Leonard's Hospice, as his mother, Lilian, was a patient there.

"The hospice means so much to me and my family that I felt I had to do everything I could to help," he said.

He contacted his suppliers and was delighted with their response too. "Most of them knew my mother and were only too pleased to contribute."

The giant cake will be cut at noon at the Fun Day, which is being held in the grounds of York College.

Wielding the knife will be BBC Radio York's Elly Fiorentini, who had appealed for help in finding the ingredients.

There will be a host of party activities, live music, displays, refreshments, an antiques road show and stalls.

The BBC's Harry Gration will be drawing the Hospice Millennium Prize Draw later in the afternoon.

Janet Morley, hospice fundraising manager, said: "We are extremely grateful to John Robertshaw and his suppliers - who are based all over the North - who contributed to the ingredients for the cake.

"A terrific amount was needed and the students at York College, under the guidance of lecturer Andrew Wood, have been very busy with the logistics of baking it. We hope to cut at least 800 slices on the day."

John's suppliers were KM Barley, of Langthorpe, Boroughbridge, who donated 160 eggs; Rank Hovis, who gave four 32-kilo bags of flour; Bako Northern, of Durham, who gave more than 20kg of dried fruit and nuts; and Craigmillar, of Liverpool, who donated 15kg of marzipan and fondant icing.

andrew.hitchon@ycp.co.uk"

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: York College catering lecture Andrew Wood, left, and John Robertshaw, of Ainsty Bakery, York, show off the ingredients of the giant cake for the Let's Party Day

Picture: Frank Dwyer