A theatre director forced to shield for months on end during lockdown is on the verge of opening an indulgent high street cookie store.

Stuart Saint, from Cliftonville, admits he was as dubious as the next man when told by a careers advisor to consider starting a baking business during a global pandemic.

Having shielded for months due to being extremely vulnerable, leaving him unable to work, the 43-year-old says he had fallen through the cracks financially.

Yet six months on, he is just weeks away from launching Milk and Cookie, first online and with his shop in Margate High Street to follow in May.

His foody venture will offer homemade dessert-style cookies, with flavours such as banoffee pie, birthday cake, gypsy tart and red velvet, as well as craft milk drinks - like cereal milk - cookie dough and ice cream.

But he admits the past year hasn't been an easy ride.

After a 24-year career in the arts, he was suddenly unable to work, forced to shield due to being clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid.

"I had cancer 10 years ago and I was in hospital for a year - I almost died," he said.

"I had chemo for eight months which I later found caused a life-long chronic illness, so I've got a compromised immune system which I have to have treatment for."

He says being stuck indoors, just eight weeks after moving to Margate from London, he started baking a lot, something he had always done in the past, particularly cookies.

And having missed out on any financial Covid support and relying on Universal Credit and even food vouchers, he also started thinking about what work he could do.

"I was talking to a careers advisor and I told her about my baking, but that I'd maybe do it once lockdown is over, and she was like 'do it now'," he said.

"She said now is the time, you can get help, you can take your time."

He admits it was unexpected advice at a time when many traders were on their knees - but took a course with the Rebel Business School and learnt how to 'bootstrap' a business, when you build up a company from nothing.

"Covid forced my hand and the pandemic, it turns out, is actually a good time to start a business, you can navigate it yourself at your pace, " he said.

"I took a breath and jumped into selling cookies online, and out of the blue, the business sky-rocketed, and at one point, I couldn't keep up with the demand.

"As I continued taking orders online, I perfected the product and took feedback, which was glowing and positive.

"What was telling was that this was truly a tremendous potential full-time business.

"I was, however, limited due to my kitchen size and basic equipment. If I really wanted to go for it, I needed a better workable space and to build a new brand."

After getting support through the New Enterprise Allowance scheme, his business model was signed off and deemed viable.

He also signed the lease for his shop unit, which also has a space downstairs which he plans to use for social events, where people can learn how to make cookies.

He added: "I love cake - I'm a northern boy at heart - and I love desserts, so my cookies will be dessert-style.

"I'll do the regular line, but also guest cookies.

"About half of the products will be vegan and the base recipe is vegan, too, and I'll do non-dairy and gluten-free.

"I'll do cookie dough cake, raw cookie dough, special milks - like candy floss milk - cookie on the pan, which is totally dirty but brilliant.

"I didn't want to repeat what others are doing by opening a bakery and I'm really good at the cookies."

Mr Saint has launched a fundraiser to help get the business going, which has received almost £1,500 in six days, with cookie rewards given for donations.

"It's amazing the support you get here in Margate," he added.

"People really get behind you."

To see the fundraiser click here.

To find out more visit www.milkandcookie.co.uk.

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