A couple who launched a business in Raynes Park during the UK's first lockdown are set to celebrate their first birthday next month.

Florists by trade, Emma Soulsby and Leigh Daley's day-to-day work was put to a halt and their income was suddenly stripped back due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a bid to help residents access fresh produce, the couple came up with a grocery delivery service and brainstormed Magnificent Marrow overnight.

The service, which offered fresh fruit, vegetables and baked goods proved a success and soon saw the couple launch a pop-up market last year July.

MORE: Success as lockdown pop up turns into permanent shop in Raynes Park

Offering delicious fresh goods on a weekly basis, every Saturday, Magnificent Marrow became too popular for just one day a week.

Now, it sits comfortably outside Raynes Park tube station as a permanent store, continuing to go from strength to strength.

Raynes Park

Raynes Park

“I have worked so hard to build up Emma Soulsby Flowers and when the Coronavirus hit all my clients’ weddings got put on hold," Emma said.

"Both Leigh and I are not the sort of people to sit around and do nothing and after seeing the growing demand for non contact food deliveries for vulnerable people, and also those juggling the new realities of daily life in a global pandemic, we realised that we had to create a new business that helped people get the fresh produce they need in a safe way.

"Our first deliveries began a week later and we haven’t stopped since.

"We have worked every day for the last year apart from Christmas Day and although there have been many challenges to overcome - lockdowns, Brexit, exhaustion and doubt - we are so proud of what we have managed to build in the last year. ”

Magnificent Marrow can be found at Station Kiosk, Station Building, Grand Drive, SW20 0JB.

If you would like fresh food delivered to your home, visit Magnificent Marrow here.