AN award-winning afternoon tea business has been serving key workers in Warrington thanks to its new home delivery service.

Under normal circumstances, Room Forty serves afternoon tea at people’s homes or venues, complete with fine table linen and tea and cakes served on bone china.

During the coronavirus lockdown, the business adapted its business model to provide boxed deliveries of afternoon tea- Afternoon Tea in a Box.

Orders have been flooding the website, including a number of generous strangers just wanting to say thank you to key workers.

One woman in the town, who wishes to remain anonymous, ordered a significant number of the boxes as a gift to St Rocco’s Hospice, Padgate House and NHS Intermediate Care Centre.

Jen Perry, founder of Room Forty, said: "The response to Afternoon Tea in a Box has been overwhelming.

"It is so restorative to witness the best side of human kindness.

"Families separated are having Zoom afternoon teas together and a couple who were set to be married and have had to postpone will mark the day that they should have been wed enjoying one of our afternoon teas together in isolation at home.

"Zoom has been remarkable in helping people unite and party together- maybe I should alter the name of the company to Zoom Forty!"

Warrington charity, Making Space, which helps adults with care and support needs lead independent lives, placed an order for 10 key workers.

The afternoon tea was shared together via Zoom with Jen, participating and chatting through afternoon tea etiquette.

Jen continued: "Bookings are flooding in and I put on my social media that I was struggling to do the deliveries.

"Immediately, Steve of Whittle Hall Taxis got in touch and offered to help out- because of Covid-19 he’d been unable to work so this has worked out fabulously well for us both!

"Being able to help people come together, celebrate and talk about something positive is an enormous privilege. I love my job!"

Room Forty's home delivery model offers fresh home-baked treats and sandwiches delivered to the doorstep.

Hygiene risks prohibit the loaning of vintage china, but there are pieces on sale that can be bought alongside.

For more information, visit roomforty.co.uk.