A new bakery where customers will be able to watch their orders being freshly made is set to open in Maldon.

Annie’s Bakery is due to open in the High Street at the end of May.

Owner Alison Palmer, in her 50s, will be joined by a full-time shop supervisor and two part-time workers.

Alison, who lives in Hatfield Peverel, named the bakery after her grandmother, who inspired her when she was growing up.

Her love of baking came from watching her grandmother in the kitchen.

She said: “Annie’s is named after my grandmother because she was a huge influence in my life.

“She taught me how to cook and all about hospitality. She was a lively Geordie lady - she was always in her kitchen, cooking and baking.”

Alison grew her business whilst supplying food at Benton Hall Golf and County Club in Witham.

She said: “Through my love of baking and hospitality, my business has grown and more people have asked me to make cakes, buffet items and special occasion cakes, including wedding cakes, so I decided to get a premises to do more baking.

“In my shop I will have a workshop where I will be decorating celebration cakes and making sandwich platters and afternoon tea boxes that people can buy.

“At the front of the shop there will be a sandwich bar with gluten free and vegan options and a selection of cakes, a bit like a patisserie with fancy cakes.

“My ethos is everything will be handmade on the premises, using a lot of locally sourced ingredients.

“We will be using Smiths Butchers, Maldon fruits and getting eggs locally.

“There will be a variety of brownies, flapjacks and cookies, and slices of sponge cakes or whole cakes.

“There will also be homemade sausage rolls, quiches and sandwiches.”

She added: “I’ve been thinking of it for quite a while and I’ve been waiting for the right premises to come up.

“It is a gamble and I am nervous, but I have support from my husband, son and friends, and now is the right time to give it a go.

“There’s a really good atmosphere between the shopkeepers here and everyone has been really friendly.

“I can't wait to make all my lovely things and I’m excited about people coming in and making orders.”

The new bakery is set to open officially on Tuesday, May 30.