A new muffin bakery is coming to Southend High Street.

National bakery Muffin Break will be opening in the former Early Learning Centre unit in the town’s main shopping strip later this month, creating 13 jobs.

Seating 75 people, the new outlet will serve coffee, handmade cakes, pies, and sandwiches, as well as freshly baked muffins.

The franchised business will be opening on Thursday, December 17.

Southend’s franchisee, Abdul Majid, said: “I am really excited to be opening a Muffin Break store in the lead up Christmas and look forward to inviting all the busy shoppers to come into our store to refuel themselves.

“What really makes Muffin Break different from other cafes is that we employ skilled bakers on the premises who make delicious products fresh from scratch each morning.

“We cannot wait to share our tempting menu with everyone. The team and I are confident that the quality of our food and coffee will entice customers to visit us time and time again.”

The national chain, which has 60 units nationwide, is opening its first south Essex branch of Muffin Break.

And the new unit fits in with Southend Council’s desire to see more eateries on the High Street, in a bid to ward off a decline in traditional shopping.

Cake store Patisserie Valerie opened up on the High Street in 2013, while Creams in London Road, near to the Odeon Cinema, opened its doors a year later, giving a boost to the town’s confectionary offer.

Early Learning Centre closed down in the High Street earlier this Autumn, at the end of October, with the company saying the store was unprofitable.

For more information on the new outlet, visit www.muffinbreak.co.uk .