A Mansfield woman has turned her passion for making toffee into a business.

Rachel Richards swapped a 20-year career in social care for the Toffee Hut, which has opened as a confectionary shop on Regent Street in Mansfield.

She makes everything by hand and still uses a hammer to break up the toffee the ‘old-fashioned’ way.

And in a sign of the venture’s success, Rachel has been commissioned to make the world’s first chilli toffee for League of Fire, the first league table-based website dedicated to chilli-eating enthusiasts.

“I’ve been making pastries, cakes, gateaux, tarts, pies, biscuits, breads and sweets for the majority of my years, having spent an inordinate amount of time with my beautiful, and oh so patient, grandma while growing up,” explained Rachel.

“I hold her responsible for developing my sweet tooth. I fondly remember being only a few years old when she passed me a stick of freshly cut rhubarb and a bag of sugar, to ‘dip in’, as she would say.

“Growing up, treat nights didn’t come much better than Bonfire Night, especially when it came to toffee… and that’s how the Toffee Hut began.

“I’ve perfected the recipe since those early years, making it creamier and richer with a smooth and chewy buttery taste. I’ve developed a variety of flavours and added extra ingredients for a different texture and bite. My personal favourites are salted peanut and black jack, as well original.”

Initially the sweet business was an online venture, but it has been so successful — even attracting orders from the likes of Harrods — that she decided to open the shop.

The shop sells cakes, sweet treats including her homemade toffee and fudge, and hot drinks, using local brand 200 Degrees Coffee from Nottingham.

Rachel is also keen to use other local suppliers as well as be as sustainable as possible and has launched a range of reusable coffee cups.

She hopes a seating area will able to be used once coronavirus restrictions ease further —­ and that a large wall in the shop can become a gallery for local artists to showcase and sell their work.

“It’s important that we have a community feel to the place,” added Rachel.

“I started off from home and sales went well.

“I began getting wholesale orders and big brand names enquiring about stocking my products, which was amazing.

“I focus on shopping local and sustainability, so it was import to use a local brand of coffee and sustainable packaging,” she said.

For more information go to www.toffeehut.co.uk or search for the business on Facebook.