A family are preparing for the launch of their independent shop which they hope will make a difference to people's lives.

Richard and Kirsty Howard, and their 20-year-old daughter Chloe, will officially open the Gluten Free Food Store in Cobbs Yard, Diss, this Friday.

The idea to open a gluten free shop stemmed from the difficulty Miss Howard, who is in her last year at university studying management and marketing, had finding gluten free items.

She will run the shop with her mother when she is back from university.

'It is just hard to find good quality gluten free produce in once place,' Miss Howard said.

'We have to shop around to get things. We wanted to put it all in one place to make it really easy.

'We hope it will help everybody and make people happy as a lot of people struggle with this and it can grind you down when you cant eat what you want.'

The shop will sell a range of items from flour, pasta cakes and bread to refrigerated and frozen items including burgers.

Miss Howard said: 'We've got produce from some independent people who are making some really nice things and we've tried to get as much as it local as we can.

'We've got things from Bhaji Man in Norwich and Aspall vinegar.'

The family also hope to have demonstrations take place in the courtyard outside the shop.

The launch will take place between 9am and 5pm on Friday, July 29.

There will be a range of samples and tasters throughout the day.

Gluten is the protein component found in wheat, rye and barley

Over consumption of gluten may lead to digestive symptoms such as bloating, pain and stomach cramps.

Are you opening a new business? Email rebecca.murphy@archant.co.uk