A NEW cake shop and bakery proved to be hugely popular as it opened in Blaenavon on Saturday.

The Flour Girls, which offers a range of cakes, pastries and fresh bread, opened on Broad Street, and sold out within its first 30 minutes of trading.

Owner Rhian O’Connell said that the opening went better than she could have imagined.

“It was insane,” she said. “There was no way in a million years that I thought it would be anything like that.”

“We started serving at 10.15am, and we had sold out by 10.45am,” said Mrs O’Connell.

“We continued to bake and replenish stock throughout the day. My husband was back in the kitchen and I was decorating them.”

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It’s been a fast turnaround for Mrs O’Connell, who only received the keys for the shop on March 11.

She started the business just over a year ago.

“When I had children of my own, I wanted to do something different,” said Mrs O’Connell.

“My mum always said that I was good at baking. Just over a year ago she said that I should make a go of it.

“She supported me through it. She passed away so she never got to see just how it turned out.

“I was crying when we opened on Saturday. Being a mum myself, I was thinking of how proud my mum would be if she had been there.”

Mrs O’Connell has run her business from her home in the town for the past year.

South Wales Argus:

Cllr Alan Jones opens The Flour Girls bakery and cake shop with owner Rhian O'Connell in Blaenavon. christinsleyphotography.co.uk

“I’m really excited,” she said. “There were a couple of familiar faces of people that are already customers, but the amount of people that I had never met before was amazing.

“Blaenavon is a lovely town, it’s so friendly.

“I’m a people person as well so I love to be able to chat with customers.”

Councillor Alan Jones, cabinet member for business, leisure and culture at Torfaen council, cut the ribbon at the opening.

Cllr Jones said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the opening of The Flour Girls on Saturday. It was an extremely busy morning for Rhian, and a delight to see so many customers coming through the door.

“I am sure the business will go from strength to strength and make a positive contribution to the diversity and offering of Blaenavon town.”