Last year, Suffolk caterer Robert Conwell dreamt up 20 varieties of scone for a celebration of the tea shop treat – but this weekend he added another dozen to the menu for the third Sconeathon in Dunwich.

The National Trust honoured the buttery British bite at Dunwich Heath’s Coastguard Cottages tea rooms, where catering manager Mr Conwell whipped up a dizzying array of sweet and savoury flavours.

A special menu included pear and ginger, chocolate and orange, lemon and blueberry, cheese and Marmite, goat’s cheese and chive, and salmon and samphire scones.

The event has become so popular that plans are in place to make it a quarterly occurrence, with the next Sconeathon scheduled for July 11.

Mr Cornwell, whose thousand-odd scones completely sold out on Saturday, said: “It started quite small, when I was in my first year at Dunwich, but I’ve steadily added more to the menu.

“This time we had a couple of Easter-themed scones – a hot cross scone and a triple chocolate scone that was baked around the National Trust region over Easter. We also had a couple of twists on classics, like the Bakewell scone.

“I think scones are among the most versatile foods I’ve worked with. The traditional recipe is quite simple but from that base, it can be taken to new heights.”

The tea room is converted from the old coastguard lookout and enjoys views of the Suffolk coastline between Sizewell and Southwold. It regularly sells both cheese and fruit scones, as well as a daily special variety.