A WORLD famous marmalade competition is celebrating after raising almost £250,000 for charity.

The staggering amount has been divided among hospices and charities both in the UK and abroad, and has been raised in just 13 years thanks to the World’s Original Marmalade Awards and Festival.

The 2018 festival raised £22,000 for Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland alone.

Organised by Jane Hasell-McCosh, of Dalemain Mansion, the event is now a key part of the amateur artisan calendar, with thousands of entries being submitted from all over the globe.

In recent years Penrith has turned orange in support of the event, with shop owners introducing their own offers to back the event and tourist boost.

In 2019, the event will return wholly to Dalemain - rather than being divided between the town centre and the mansion house and gardens - and there are hopes the festival’s ambitions will see even more money raised for good causes.

The competition has only just opened for entries, and Jane said they have already had their first international entrant from Greece.

“We’re getting telephone calls from all over the world now, so that is incredibly exciting,” she added.

The event boasts international fame with the announcement of a new Japanese festival, and the established Australian event will see a battle for the ‘MarmalAshes”.

Like every year the competition will be tough and with new categories added, there is a chance for a whole new variety of this tasty treat to be sampled.

Popular categories will make a reappearance, such as Octogenarians and Upwards, The ‘MarmalAshes’ and the first timers category, which is open to anyone who is making marmalade for the first time.

Although the awards are a way of celebrating the history surrounding this fruity preserve, they have been raising money for charities across the globe.

Dr Alison Miles, chairman of trustees at Hospice at Home, said: “Each year the iconic Marmalade Festival raises significant funds for palliative care, of which Hospice at Home has gratefully been the main beneficiary.

“It is with thanks to this magnificent level of generosity and support that Hospice at Home can continue to provide vital hospice care free of charge to patients and their families, making a huge difference in our local community.”

The competition is open for 2019 and the full homemade entry fee will continue to be donated to hospice charities, not only in the area, but across the world.

Jane said: “We are so delighted that the awards have raised such a huge amount of money.”

As with previous years there will be a chance to have your marmalade make its way to Penrith on the Marmalade Express and have your preserve sold in Fortnum & Mason.