Mum was 'scared' when she quit her 9 to 5 job but now she 'wouldn't change a thing'

A mum who turned a lockdown hobby into a fully-fledged business has said she "wouldn't change a thing".

Danielle Daley, from Runcorn, spent a decade working for a housing trust straight out of university but is now living every child's dream and running her own sweet shop. The mum-of-one said that she was off on maternity leave just as the Covid lockdown hit and noticed people were making and selling pick and mixes on Facebook.

She wanted to give it a go and Hey Sweetie was born. Everything began to fall into place once her husband Carl came across the units being set up at Bridgewater Craft and Garden Centre.

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Danielle told the ECHO: "My husband got a job on the site where new units were being set up. I looked around, the rent is reasonable and the surroundings are lovely with the garden centre and the canal just outside.

"We started in the shop in August 2020 doing sweets, milkshakes and waffles. We now do personalised cupcakes which have been fun to branch out into.

For months, the 35-year-old would find herself working seven days a week when balancing her full-time job, a newborn and getting her business off the ground. She said: "In the beginning, we were open till 10pm some nights and I'd come straight from work.

"Looking back, I don't know how I did it. But, if I didn't do that, then I don't think I'd be where we are now with it.

"It's been hard work, a lot of sweat and tears, but it's been more than worth it. I wouldn't change a thing and I really can't see myself doing anything else now.

"It was January [2021] when they offered redundancies at work so it felt like it was all meant to be. I've