Briefs

=n Brace’s Bakery is marking its 105th birthday this year by donating a selection of new books to Bearnes Primary School, Newton Abbot. The company’s head of communications Michelle Hughes said it believed books were key to a child’s development but too many children from low-income families could not afford to buy them. "We encourage families to spend quality time together. There aren’t many better ways than cuddling up on a sofa reading a book together," she said.

n Quiche company Worth Eating was named runner-up in Somerset Life magazine’s search for the best local producer. Owner Julian Langdon, a former chef in some of South West England’s top restaurants, uses locally sourced produce, such as Somerset vintage Cheddar, Wiltshire bacon, Dorset Blue Vinny cheese, and Bristol smoked salmon, as ingredients for his quiche dishes.

n Two men broke into Upper Crust bakery at Watford Junction railway station last week and stole a substantial amount of cash. Police are investigating.

n Peter Ford, who sold his Scottish family bakery business Fords to Cheshire-based Lyndale Foods in 1999, has set up a new business - the Premier Roll Company. Based in Bilston, it concentrates on producing just one product - "quality" morning rolls - to supply to other businesses. "We have two delivery vans on the road doing 450 dozen rolls a day and we intend taking that up to 1,800 dozen a day," he said.

n A bread-maker from north Powys, Wales, has been fined £2,750 and ordered to pay £750 costs for selling loaves under weight.