A MODERN day family of bakers have been immortalised in the relaunch of a popular family game.

The Baker family from Swindon has been chosen from hundreds of entrants across the UK to star in a pub restaurant chain and soft play centre’s real life Happy Families card game.

The Mill House Fayre & Square and Wacky Warehouse in Chippenham scoured the UK to create its very own version of the classic game. The pub restaurant and soft play centre appealed for the Mr Bacons and Miss Chalks of the nation to come forward to find a brand new set of families to bring the game to life.

Shelly Baker entered her family as she teaches cake decorating and baking, and says people love to find out that she is a Mrs Baker who works with cakes. She decided to teach herself how to bake after the loss of her 47 year old mum in 2009, leaving herself, her sister and her brother alone.

She wanted to carry on the family tradition her mum had started of making the families birthday cakes, which soon evolved into a business.

She said: “I always get asked: ‘Is your name really Baker?’. And I'm often asked which came first, the husband or the career - I can happily reassure him that I didn't marry my lovely hubby, David, just for the name!

“My mum baked for a hobby and so did David's mum, but I'm the first to do this as a career. I'm sure I won't be the last though as our children are taking a keen interest.”

Son Ben, 9, has been saying since he was small that he's going to take over the business and rename it ‘Mr Baker's Cakes’ and his mum can be his helper. Five-year-old Erin wants to learn the skill of baking to continue the tradition of making the family cakes one day, and seven-year -old Ryan is the family’s chief cake tester and has a knack for choosing new flavours.

Shelly said: “I remember playing Happy Families often as a child but I haven't seen a copy of the game since we've had our own children. I'm sure now we're part of it, it will become a huge favourite with our children.”

The family will now feature on a bespoke pack of Happy Families cards, as well as receive a £500 holiday voucher, a Wacky Platinum Card which gives entry to Wacky Warehouse for life, a kid’s party at Wacky Warehouse and £50 worth of vouchers for a meal at Fayre & Square.

The Mill House will be selling packs of the new Happy Families card game for £2 each, with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Matthew Thomas, general manager at the Mill House said: “We’re thrilled that one of the chosen real life Happy Families has been found in Swindon. We want all families to go home happy when they visit the Mill House, and bringing to life the fun and nostalgia of a classic family card game is a great way to spread happiness.

“We had hundreds of entries, but our new line up is a fantastic reflection of the modern day Happy Families, and we hope the Bakers enjoy their prizes.”