Create and Party has been chosen as the winner of the Echo's Love Local Business competition.

Art tutors Linda and Zara have been teaching and producing workshops and parties in the community for six years.

At the beginning of lockdown the aim was to deliver workshops in kit form to the children to bring some joy in a very bleak time.

In order to achieve this they had to overcome many battles with supplies - no flour, cupcake cases, bags, children’s paints out of stock and queuing at wholesalers only to find shelves empty.

Zara said: "We have all been through a lot together and hope our kits have brought the little ones as much joy to them as seeing the images that their parents have kindly taken the time to share with us us.

"Our happy little cupcake and craft kits have been delivered to many doorsteps and posted to Scotland, Wales and Ireland .

"We have also produced special personalised stay safe stay home boxes full of fun, creativity and entertainment for the children to celebrate Halloween, Christmas and will be delivering an Easter kit."

She added: "We have made special party boxes and delivered these to the birthday person and individually to their friends so that they can enjoy celebrating birthdays together online."

The company will benefit from support from LOCALiQ, the digital marketing arm of Newsquest, the publisher of the Daily Echo.