Two friends who met when they were stallholders at a craft market have launched a bricks-and-mortar store in a Norfolk town. 

Lesley Dumpleton, 56, and Mike Mooney, 46, have opened Leli's Deli and Gift Shop across two floors at 21 Plowright Place in Swaffham.

They met 18 months ago when they had neighbouring pitches at a craft market at Tesco in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. 

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Eastern Daily Press: Lesley Dumpleton's Why the Fudge!! products are available in the shop Picture: Denise BradleyLesley Dumpleton's Why the Fudge!! products are available in the shop Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Dumpleton, from South Wootton, runs Why the Fudge!! and Mr Mooney, who lives in Clenchwarton, is behind Revival Home & Body. 

They now also work together at the King's Lynn-based Forward Day Centre, a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities. 

Eastern Daily Press: Leli's Deli and Gift Shop is now open in Plowright Place, Swaffham Picture: Denise BradleyLeli's Deli and Gift Shop is now open in Plowright Place, Swaffham Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Mooney said: "It was Lesley's passion to open a deli and I wanted a shop so we decided to combine the two. 

"The site in Swaffham was the first place we looked at and the next day we had signed the lease.

"It is such a lovely town and we fell in love with it as soon as we came here." 

Eastern Daily Press: Friends Mike Mooney and Lesley Dumpleton are behind the new business Picture: Denise BradleyFriends Mike Mooney and Lesley Dumpleton are behind the new business Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

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Thanks to help from friends, family and nearby businesses, the shop is now open and packed with local produce and gifts.

The ground floor is a deli, with items including cold meats, cheeses, jams and chutneys, sweet treats from west Norfolk business Miam Miam, Mrs Dumpleton's fudges and marinades and, at weekends only, fresh bread.

Eastern Daily Press: Lesley Dumpleton also makes marinades, which are available to buy Picture: Denise BradleyLesley Dumpleton also makes marinades, which are available to buy Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

Upstairs is the gift shop and it includes photographs, baby grows, candles, crocheted animals, home fragrances and wax melts. 

Mrs Dumpleton said: "There is nothing like this in Swaffham and local people are very excited.

"We even had someone put a list through the door with suggestions of what we should offer."

The pair will run Leli's Deli and Gift Shop around their full-time jobs.

It is open Fridays and Saturdays 10am-7pm, Sundays 10am-4pm and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 4.30pm-7.30pm (closed Mondays).