A LAW student from Port Glasgow is pleading with people to turn their lockdown bakery creations into charity cash.

Former St Stephen's High School pupil Georgina Meahan has launched a virtual bake off which encourages individuals to challenge their friends to cook up tasty treats for the Barnardo's charity.

Georgina, who studies at the University of Edinburgh, set up a Barnardo's Society at the university after being inspired by her mum, who works as a supply teacher at Craigmarloch School.

The society was all geared up to run a bake sale when the coronavirus pandemic hit, and the event had to be shelved.

The 22-year-old is now appealing to people who are digging out the mixing bowls during lockdown to get baking for the charity.

Georgina said: "We had a big bake sale planned but after everything was cancelled and we were sent home from uni, I thought 'why don't we try to do this online?'.

"A lot of people are choosing to bake during the lockdown, so I thought it would be a good idea to encourage people to channel that energy into raising money for charity.

"I bake when I get stressed and it really helps me."

Money raised through the campaign will support vulnerable children across the UK.

The Just Giving page was set up on April 16 and creations including banana bread, cinnamon buns, cookies and brownies have already helped to raise more than £400.

Georgina, from Dougliehill Place, is passionate about her Barnardo's fundraising as president of the society and she hopes to go on to do a PhD in human rights and child law.

She added: "The charity is really struggling with fundraising at the moment as people can't get out and about to run 5ks or to take part in any events.

"I'm just going to keep it running and see where it goes.

"It's about raising awareness of what Barnardo's does as well as raising money.

"It's so important that we raise money for charity anyway, but especially in the current circumstances.

"I feel very fortunate to be in a house with enough food to eat but there are a lot of children who are not in that situation."

To get involved in the virtual bakeoff, bake your choice of treat, post a photo on Facebook with the #bake4barnardos tag and nominate four friends, and make a donation to the appeal page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/uoe-bake4barnardos