A former art teacher who gave up her career to launch a cake-making business has come up with a fresh idea to combat baking mess.

Eastern Daily Press: Imogen Davison, who has a cake making business, has invented a new mixer guard.Picture: ANTONY KELLYImogen Davison, who has a cake making business, has invented a new mixer guard.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

Imogen Davison, 41, grew fed up of being coated with a dusting of icing sugar every time she turned on her electric mixer while making cakes for her business, Sugar Buttons.

So she created a mixer guard, and after contracting a manufacturer in Hong Kong to produce her baking accessory, has 500 to sell.

Mrs Davison, who has two children and a step-daughter, ploughed her savings into the product, but said it had transformed her business.

'I have sold quite a few on my website and the feedback has been really good,' said Mrs Davison, of Pelham Road, Norwich.

The mixer guard fits over electric mixers, preventing icing sugar and flower from escaping.

Now she is searching for shops and online retailers to stock the new product.

She added: 'People have been posting on Instagram. Once they have it, they can't live without it.'

Mrs Davison gave up her job as head of art at Caister High School in July, and developed her business making cakes for weddings, parties and cafes which she had launched three years earlier.

As a coeliac, she has developed a specialism for gluten-free cakes, and wants to begin teaching cake decorating to baking enthusiasts.

Are you launching an unusual business? Email sabah.meddings@archant.co.uk