Have you ever tried a Banbury Cake? It's the local alternative to mince pies

Jo Samways, a town host with the Banbury Business Improvement District (BID), said: "Not many places can say they have a local alternative to mince pies."

If you want to try a Banbury Cake you can find it gift packaged with a small nursery rhyme book at the Sugar Rush sweet shop in Church Lane, or from Steve Betts in Church Lane, Lenny's in Parsons St, and the Banbury Market.

Andy Arlis, who runs the Sugar Rush sweet shop, described a Banbury Cake as a flat flaky pastry covered with sugar and a fruity filling on the inside. He also described the Banbury Cake as a popular cake all year-round, not just during the holidays like the mince pies. But when comparing the two he said a Banbury Cake is 'a lot' sweeter due to it being covered in sugar.

Andy said: "I was born in the area and I've always known of Banbury Cakes.

"When I took on the sweet shop I couldn't believe how hard it was to find some Banbury Cakes.

"I took on the sweet shop in 2012, and we started selling them three years later."

According to the Banburycakes.co.uk website, the Banbury Cakes are 'stepped-in history,' and were originally made by baker Philip Brown, whose family has been making the cakes for centuries. The recipe for the famous Brown's Original Banbury Cakes is a 'closely guarded secret' and dates back to the 13th Century.

Banbury Cakes make great gifts and with a four-week shelf life, can be sent by mail order anywhere in the world.

Of all the Sugar Rush inventory Banbury Cakes are their number one best seller.

Andy added: "We do sell fair few of them, and post them to places all over the world especially places like America and Canada.

"It's probably my biggest seller. I just want everyone to try one."