THE deadline is fast approaching for people to submit their designs to a tennis-themed cake competition.

Top Class Tennis in Eastbourne is celebrating its 40th birthday this summer with the return of the Aegon International Tennis Tournament and they are calling on tennis and baking fans from Sussex to design them a spectacular birthday cake.

Past winners of this prestigious tennis tournament include legends such as 11-time champion Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Jana Novotna, Justine Henin and Lindsay Davenport.

The winning design will be chosen by a panel including Culinary Olympic gold medallist and award winning sugar artist Michelle Wibowo from Lindfield - who has created cake sculptures such as busts of Andy Muarry and The Queen.

Ms Wibowo will create her interpretation of the winning design and the amazing ‘Happy Birthday Eastbourne’ cake will be unveiled at the tournament in June.

Pieces of the cake will then be sold during the Rally for Bally charity exhibition match being held at the Aegon International – which will be played in memory of former British number one Elena Baltacha.

Money raised will go to the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The winning cake designer will receive a complimentary lunch and access to the Aegon International so they can see their final celebration cake when it’s unveiled.

Deadline for designs closes tonight at midnight.

The Aegon International will be held at Devonshire Park on June 14 to 21. 

For design guidelines and information on how to enter your cake design visit www.lta.org.uk/cake

For information on how to get tickets for the Aegon International visit www.aegoninternational.co.uk