Judges at an annual marmalade competition were in a bit of a jam last week – after they were faced with tasting 100 different jars.

Fanny's Farm, on Markedge Lane, Redhill, holds the competition every year in an attempt to bring out the best of Surrey's competitive cooks.

Owner Fanny Maiklem said: "The judges were faced with row upon row of marmalade, but somehow managed to get through them all. It was rather jam-packed.

"The standard was exceptional. And we were delighted to host the competition because marmalade-making is a tradition that is sadly dying out.

"Time was when every family would have its own recipe and it would be passed down the generations.

"But these days everyone is so busy that generations of skills are being lost. I hope we are doing our bit to help revive tradition."

Entries came from far and wide, with jars arriving by car, motorbike, and there was even a hand-delivery from the police, an entry by a couple of PCSOs which Fanny said had made an "arresting sight".

There were six categories in the main competition, with men and women competing in separate groups for the title of best Seville orange marmalade, best mixed fruit marmalade, and best 'other' marmalade.

As for Fanny's own recipe, she was keeping that a closely guarded secret.

She said: "I can't give you it, it's top secret. People never share their recipes. But I will say, to make a good marmalade you need to get the basics right.

"Cut up your fruit the day before. Cook it up the next after you have soaked it overnight. And if you want to have the traditional bitter taste, always use Seville oranges from Spain, there really is no substitute."

Fanny said her next goal was to reinvigorate another British stalwart that has fallen by the wayside in recent years – rhubarb.

She said: "We're having a rhubarb festival. It's another one of those traditional foods that gets overlooked these days but there really is nothing quite like it, especially with lime jelly."