A HUSBAND and wife team have followed their dreams and opened a healthy eating cafe in the heart of Southend.

Rowan and Helen Langlois, from Rochford, have taken over the Cambella Cafe in the Victoria Shopping Centre, which was popular for its full english breakfasts, before closing down last year.

It has now been transformed into a small, bright, modern cafe called Chez Cafe, serving low-calorie snacks and healthy meals after Mr Langlois gutted and refurbished the property.

Mrs Langlois, 41, said: “It’s a typical little cafe and people can still come in for the usual cafe food such as sandwiches, but we’re trying to get the message out there that those who are on a diet can still enjoy eating out.

“Anyone watching what they eat can be reassured that they can get something off our menu and it won’t affect any diet plan they are following.”

As a trained dancer who taught at Wiggles Dance Studio in Aviation Way, Southend, Mrs Laglois always kept in shape.

However, after having her son four years ago the weight piled on and Mrs Langlois turned to a healthy-eating plan to help bring back her confidence and restore her slim figure.

She said: “I just got into bad habits and went over the top with food while I was pregnant. I have lost about two stone. I know it isn’t a huge amount but it’s made a big difference.”

Mrs Langlois took full advantage of having a trained chef for a husband when she began the diet.

Mr Langlois, 42, stopped working in the food industry many years ago and turned to plumbing. He is now back in the kitchen while his wife and two nieces do the waitressing.

Mrs Langlois said: “He always wanted to get back into it, so when he lost his job, he decided to follow his dreams. So far it’s great working together, we just get on so well.”