A much-loved Kenilworth food delivery service, which emerged during the first national lockdown, is to serve its final customers this April.

Warwickshire Egghut was launched in September 2020 after local nurse Louise Lynam posted on social media asking if any Kenilworth residents would be interested in receiving regular deliveries of fresh, free range eggs from Warwickshire farms.

The response was massive, but now six months on Louise's 200 fortnightly deliveries are planned expansion are set to come to an end as she makes her final rounds on April 13.

Having started by dropping off fresh eggs to her neighbours during lockdown, Louise quickly found a lot of households on her road asking for the same.

"I thought this is quite nice, bringing the community together, and building the spirit locally," she says, "so I thought I'd put it on Facebook to see if other people would want it, and it became really popular.

"It seemed to give people a boost in a time that was difficult for everybody, it gave that bit of connection between people."

Initially Louise was delivering regularly to around 50 homes, but since the start of 2021 she has been dropping off fresh, free range eggs to around 130 customers in Kenilworth every Tuesday and around 60 in Leamington and Warwick on Wednesdays.

Such has been the popularity of Warwickshire Egghut, she has expanded her range, with honey from Stratford-Upon-Avon, chocolate nut spread from Warwick and Easter biscuits made in Kenilworth.

"The whole idea is supporting local, and getting away from mass produced produce in the supermarket really.

"It has built lots of relationships; I have met lots of local suppliers and it is so nice working with small businesses."

However, with the obvious demands of working as a nurse, as well as trying to run an ever-expanding business which has delivered over 50,000 eggs since September, Louise has decided to take a step back and no longer take orders through Warwickshire Egghut.

"The plan has changed now, I've decided to stop delivering once lockdown is partly lifted in two weeks.

"It's a good business and we were making money, but not enough with all the work involved."

Despite her own success in getting Warwickshire Egghut off the ground, Louise was eager to thank all those who have helped her, including her mother Helen and "the unsung hero" boyfriend Francis.

"My mum has helped; it has been really good for her having an excuse to get out the house.

"I do not think that I could have done it without their help."

As the number of orders to process increased, Louise enlisted the help of friend and Kenilworth local Emma Scott in setting up a website for Warwickshire Egghut.

As well as thanking Emma, Louise has extended her gratitude to the rest of the town.

"It has been really heart warming for us to do, meeting all the lovely people who have put their faith in us.

"It has really been good, so I want to thank the community really. They have been so positive, and without them trying something new, nothing like this would have happened."

Whilst she remains on the lookout for anybody who would be prepared to take on the business, for now she is encouraging residents to still buy free range, and ideally organic eggs, from local farms so that you know the hens are being looked after.

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