A crowdfunder set up just a week ago to develop Grantham's Hawkens Gingerbread into a global brand has already raised more than a quarter of its target figure.

Alastair Hawken, founder and CEO of the company, set an investment target of £250,000 to take the company to the next phase...and today (Sun) it had already reached £53,480.

The crowdcube.com page is currently still in 'private mode' meaning investment so far has been by invitation-only.

But shortly it will go public for 30 days offering anyone registered on crowdcube.com the opportunity to invest - and own a slice of Grantham's history - from just £10.

The investment page says: "Hawkens Gingerbread is enjoyed by hundreds of people. We want to expand our range and widen its appeal.

"Investment will enable us to bring the necessary skills into the business and get in front of a much wider audience.

"We have spent three years in a start-up phase and now target a three-year phase of stage one growth.

"We are consistently growing the number of outlets that stock our products and aim to supply 500 outlets by November 2019. Our online sales are showing strong movement in the upwards direction."

The company's website says the investment round will start the journey of taking the brand to 'stratospheric heights'.

"We will be creating a time capsule of the process which will remain locked until the year 3000 and placed below the bakery floor at Gingerbread HQ.

"As a thank you for your investment your name will be listed within the time capsule for future generations to truly appreciate the part that you played in building the Hawkens Gingerbread brand," it adds.

Alastair has also set out a table of rewards - depending on the sum - for investors as a thank you for their contribution to growing the company.

For a £50,000 investment the company will develop a gingerbread recipe in the investor's name, to be sold on the website, and they will be invited to Gingerbread HQ to watch the product being made. They will also be invited as a guest of honour to a VIP reception.

Other rewards are:

£50 - 5% discount code for purchases on Hawkens Gingerbread website for two years

£100 - 10% discount code for purchases on Hawkens Gingerbread website for two years

£250 - a hamper containing all the company's products

£500 - a hamper of products plus a limited edition Hawkens Gingerbread investor T-shirt

£1000 - invitation, including up to five friends or family members, to Gingerbread HQ for a tour and to see products being made

£10,000 - five hampers and invite to the VIP champagne and canapes reception

£25,000 - invitation, including up to five friends or family members, to Gingerbread HQ for a tour and to see products being made, plus an invite to the VIP reception Alastair rediscovered Grantham Gingerbread in 2011. It had been England's oldest commercially traded biscuit - first made in the town in 1740 - before falling out of production. With the help of his family, he restarted commercial production of the biscuit, and set about reintroducing it to the world. To find out more, and how to register to invest, visit Hawkens Gingerbread website by clicking the red button below.