The Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry was the star attraction at a 100-year-old charity hill climb at the weekend.

The celebrity Penn resident joined Paddy Hopkirk at the eighth revived Kop Hill Climb in Princes Risborough as she mingled with crowds and dropped the flag to kick off the afternoon race.

Organisers say they are hoping for another record year after last year’s event saw a turnout of more than 16,000 people and raised £75,000 for charity.

Spokesman Sara Beaumont said: “The event went fabulously well. We had an amazing amount of people so I think it will be another record year.

“Mary said enjoyed herself immensely – she had a fabulous time.”

The future of the national treasure is uncertain, after it was revealed she had not yet signed up to a new-look series of Bake Off after the BBC lost the show to Channel 4 last week, refusing to pay a reported £25 million a year to keep it.

It was also announced last week that she would be switching on Marlow’s Christmas lights this year.

Thousands of revellers gathered to savour the roar of more than 400 vehicles, both classic and modern-day exotics, as they sped up Kop Hill for the 60s-themed event.