Staffordshire-based Lawtons Pies has discovered a historical recipe for gingerbread while decorating its bakery.

Steve Ball and his wife Alison, who co-own Lawtons, found an envelope containing a list of ingredients for gingerbread while decorating the 90-year-old bakery. The recipe is thought to be around 100 years old.

Steve Ball told British Baker he thought the gingerbread would be a hit in the Leek-based shop after producing a batch and sampling it among family, friends and customers.

“Last week we let people in the shop sample the gingerbread and, we would love to sell this recipe to customers in the future,” Ball said.

“If we could get going with it, I think it would be a flier.”

Gingerbread was first made in Leek in 1796, according to Ball, who said there was a lot of history in the area connected with the product.

Lawtons Pies was founded in 1928 and produces a variety of baked goods, such as Eccles cakes, scones, meat & potato pies and sausage rolls.