Maldon High Street is set to receive an exciting addition next month - an arts and crafts shop.

Heart of Craft will be opening on Saturday 14 August, at 1 High Street, and will offer a range of arts and crafts to customers - from yarn, knitting and crochet supplies to artists' supplies, modelling clay and haberdashery items.

Sustainability is at the forefront of owner Laura Donovan's mind. She said: "I would like to encourage and help people to upcycle and reuse items, especially textiles. I want the shop to be as eco-friendly as possible."

Laura is also keen to adapt to what customers want. She said: "I'm trying to learn as much as I can from people who are excited about it and trying to figure out what people want and need.

"I don't want to be too fixed - I'd rather keep up with what people actually want."

Laura, who has previously worked in retail, is excited to bring arts and crafts to the town centre. She said: "I've lived in Maldon for five years, and I've always thought that it was missing an arts and crafts shop."

She added: "It's really over lockdown that the idea came back again and kept niggling away, so it's really exciting - I'm really looking forward to it."

Laura's shop will be there for people who have discovered the benefits of arts and crafts over lockdown. She said: "So many people have got into crafts and things.

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"For your own mental wellbeing it's been really helpful for a lot of people during lockdown - just to keep you occupied and calm because it's quite mindful, especially stuff like crochet and cross stitch."

She continued: "I think it's really good for people's mental health and a lot of people have realised that they like the effect that it has on them and they've carried on even after lockdown has finished."

While Laura will be running the shop by herself at the beginning, she hopes to employ people in the future. She said: "Hopefully, if it does well, I'll be able to take on more staff."

She is already encouraged by the enthusiasm she has seen from residents so far. She said: "Lots of people who work in the High Street have been really encouraging and really helpful which is really nice.

"It feels like a proper community. It's really lovely."

To find out more information you can visit Heart of Craft's Facebook page using the link here.