THIS could be the biggest chocolate eclair ever made in the world – and it was all done in a small baker's kitchen in Chichester. The specially-ordered sweet is a whopping 11ft 10in long, containing eight pints of double cream, and a kilogram of chocolate.
Made by ambitious bakers at The Swallow Bakery in North Street, Chichester, it could be the world's biggest, as the Guinness World Records organisation said no-one had achieved such a feat.
Manager at the bakery Alisha de Lacey was left with sore arms after helping to carry the monster eclair to a minibus parked up the road in North Street.
She said: "I think it is brilliant – I am really pleased we were asked. I'm quite competitive – we just want to be the best.
"I was trying to work out how many calories are in it, but I don't think I want to know.
"I know the average cup cake has 230 calories, but the actual eclair pastry doesn't have any sugar, it is more about the fat content.
"I would quite like to make the world's biggest cup cake now. If anyone has any other interesting ideas, let us know."
Bakers Lou Allen and Michaela Heard took four hours to carefully construct the pastry in the small kitchen, and then took more than an hour filling it with cream, and spreading the chocolate on top.
The order was placed by Rotherlea Care Home in Petworth as part of its Pick a Wish campaign, when residents write down their wishes and put them in a wish tin, with a winner being picked out each week.
Fred Beer (68) asked for the world's biggest eclair and was lucky enough to have his name drawn out.
Activities co-ordinator at Rotherlea, Ian-James Delves, said: "I contacted the Swallow Bakery and manager Alisha de Lacey was more than happy to help.
"Thanks to their generous support and the support of the team at Rotherlea, we have managed to make Fred's dream come true.
"According to the Guinness Book of Records there is no record for the biggest chocolate eclair, so we are hoping to set one."
