A baker whose new patisserie has been blighted by bad luck has reopened her shop three months after temporarily closing.

Best friends Louise Malone and Claire Dalley unveiled the Princess of Bakes in Canterbury Street, Gillingham back in May.

However just two months after the pair began trading together, Claire left the business for pastures new.

The decision left Louise, who quickly decided to buy the remainder of the business from her pal of 30 years, running the shop on her own.

Yet her bad luck didn't stop there, as, just weeks later, the shop suffered a water leak at the same time the 42-year-old became ill.

It led to the Princess of Bakes closing its doors in November while Louise overcame the challenges.

Now though, more than two months later, the bakery has reopened with a fresh new look.

Speaking shortly after the relaunch earlier this week, Louise said: "Unfortunately my former business partner left in July but I decided to buy her half of the business.

"But then we had a leak and I became ill in the autumn, so it's been a bit stop-start as we had to close for a bit.

"That's why I have decided to do a brand new relaunch myself having got better again about a week before Christmas.

"I've gone to town trying to get people back again and to improve Gillingham High Street.

"It's about me putting my own stamp on the place, and that's why the last few weeks have been about me getting all the decorations sorted.

"I've also spent the last week baking a lot, as we've already got a lot of a contracts with different NHS Homes and the Royal Engineers Museum - who we supply freshly-made sandwiches and sausage rolls to.

"But the opening has been really, really busy so far and we have sold out of pretty much everything since we opened [on Monday]."

The takeaway bakery sells the likes of freshly-made cakes, including rocky road bites, brownies and cheesecake pots.

It also offers milkshakes, sandwiches and homemade scones and sausage rolls.

And after baking since the age of six and then going to catering college, mum Louise insists she is excited to run the shop solo.

"I want my direction to be more about baking, but also about getting regular customers and I think there's a gap in the market here for a homemade shop like ours," the Gillingham resident added.

"That's why I have lowered the prices on a lot of things compared to when Claire and I did it together.

"A lot of parents bring their children too, so the Princess of Bakes will be family-centred and offer personalised options for people who want certain foods to eat on their cakes or sandwiches."

Speaking back in May about the decision to open in Canterbury Street, Louise continued: "It’s a funny story actually.

"Someone was parked in my parking space and they were doing work on JJ’s Furniture, which is where the new shop now is.

“He jokingly asked if I was interested and it kind of went from there.”

Princess of Bakes will be open from 9am until 4pm on Monday to Saturdays.

Its launch back in the spring came less than two years after Louise launched her first shop, luxury tea room The Queen of Bakes, across the road in August 2021.