A sweet treat feat!

Jayne Walker’s charity idea to sell hampers and gifts of retro treats has been such a runaway success that her house is now referred to as ‘the new sweet shop’ by local children.

Orders have been pouring in and Jayne has been up as early as 4.30am some mornings preparing packages, which she is selling to raise money for Kirkwood Hospice.

Jayne, 37, made a few hampers a couple of weeks ago to sell to friends and family. She wanted to raise money in memory of a close friend who spent her final days at the Dalton-based hospice.

But word soon spread and Jayne has been overwhelmed by the demand.

Jayne, who runs G Walker Joinery and Building with her partner Gary Walker, said: “It’s just got out of hand. I’ve now got people turning up as if it’s a sweet shop! I’ve been inundated.

“Most mornings since I’ve done it I’ve been up at 6am wrapping sweets. One morning I was up at 4.30am!”

Jayne, who has sons Reece,13, and Joe, 10, said her family had been helping her cope with the dozens of orders – one friend even got 30 orders from her workplace.

The unprecedented response is not just good news for hospice funds though – Jayne said many school and college friends she had not seen for years had been in touch via the website Facebook and had called to see her for orders.

“I didn’t expect I’d get the response I have. It’s an absolute shock the way people have been so generous,” said Jayne, of Wellhouse Close, Mirfield.

“I don’t know if they’re selling so well because they’re really good, or really cheap!”

Jayne will be selling her wares at three fairs, so people can go there to buy from her.

Sweetie Heaven will be one of many stalls at St Andrew’s Dementia Support Group autumn fair at St Andrew’s Church, Old Bank Road, Mirfield, from 11am-2pm tomorrow; at Croft House ladies night, Upper Hopton, on Friday November 18 from 7.30pm and at the Kirkwood Hospice fair on November 19 and 20, noon-3pm, at the hospice in Albany Road, Dalton.

Any items not sold at the last fair will be donated to the hospice.

To order a gift call Jayne on 01924 513759.