Giant gingerbread Big Ben created for Holkham Hall Christmas showcase

The world-famous Big Ben clock tower, designed by Sir Charles Barry, has been recreated as a giant gingerbread Christmas centrepiece featuring kilos of edible treats.

The baked festive homage to the 19th Century tower, external features as part of the Christmas attractions at Holkham Hall, external in north Norfolk.

Created by award-winning baker Emma Thorburn, it stands at 5ft 4in tall (1.6m) and features 12kg (26lbs) of coloured sugar paste, 1,400 gilded gingerbread men and thousands of cake sprinkles.

Twelve months in the planning, the sculpture is based on an idea by Lady Leicester, who lives at Holkham with her family, inspired by the 18th Century Palladian-style mansion's many clocks.