A GIANT gingerbread house replicating Ascot racecourses' grandstand has been unveiled today to mark the start of the Christmas Race Weekend.

Ascot Racecourse has teamed up with Pretty Sweet London, a high end patisserie service to create a six meter long giant gingerbread grandstand.

The festive creation is part of the Christmas Racing Weekend where thousands of racegoers will get to attend the racecourses final race meeting of the year.

Claire Clark, international pastry chef said: "It has actually taken us quite a long time to make this, 400 hours plus. Luckily we had quite a big team, carpenters, artists and seven pastry chefs.

"It is the largest gingerbread project I have worked on, it is six metres long by 2 metres wide and 90 kilos of gingerbread dough." The giant Gingerbread Grandstand is set to be a show-stopping masterpiece as the festive holidays begin.

Sarah Crouchman, director of Pretty Sweet added: "It is in five sections and that was the challenge of getting them to fit together. It has been a real challenge and really fun."

Racegoers can find the gingerbread grandstand in situ at the west end of the Grandstand and will be forming part of Mrs Claus' Kitchen were she will be hosting storytelling and gingerbread decorating for children on Saturday.

Visit: www.ascot.co.uk/christmasracing to purchase tickets.