Two mums who baked cakes for their children’s birthday parties have teamed up to open Minster’s first cake and coffee shop.

Mum-of-three Karen Lawrence and mum-of-four Carrie-Anne Wicketts have converted a former derelict DIY shop and opened for business on Saturday.

Karen, 34, admitted: “We had to pull in favours from friends and relatives, and especially our husbands, to get the building finished in time. We had just six weeks and a minimal budget of £5,000 but the late nights and weekend working all paid off.”

Carrie-Anne, 36, said: “My husband Garry, his brother Adam and their dad John did most of the building work.

“They had to strip everything out and start from scratch.”

Already The Abbey Cake Shop at 1 Chapel Street, opposite Minster Abbey, has proved a hit with locals.

Both women started by baking birthday cakes for their children’s birthdays. Karen said: “We both caught the bug and loved it. Soon we were baking cakes for friends and families.”

Karen created Karen’s Little Cakery and Carrie Anne made a name for herself with Carrie Anne’s Cakes. The couple began attending events together, such as Priory Hill Holiday Park’s open days at Leysdown and the Sheerness Town Team’s Christmas Market, but it was not until they spotted the empty shop that they decided to combine their businesses and become partners.

Karen said: “When I saw the shop was empty I texted Carrie Anne saying it would be perfect for a cake shop. She said she had been thinking the same so we started hounding the owner! We both thought there was a need for a shop like this in Minster.”

The pair sell homemade cakes, cup cakes, sandwiches and baguettes, tea and a range of coffees, mainly for take-away.

Karen explained: “We would like to expand into a tea shop where people can come and relax but we need full planning permission for that, which is why we only have three tables inside for customers waiting at the moment.”

The mums also offer a bespoke wedding cake service and have added comfy sofas at the back of the building where brides can have a personal wedding cake consultation.

They have hired a staff of helpers including Madison Shufflebotham, 17, Megan Craig, 16, and Vicky Saint, 26.