A NEW shop offering residents the chance to get crafty has opened.

Teacher Vanessa Heady has been searching for the perfect place to open Heady’s Hobbies and Gifts.

After meeting with Walton residents to see what activities they would enjoy in the community, she opened her shop in Walton High Street, with the help of town council chairman Matt Platt.

Vanessa, from Little Clacton, wanted to bring the community together.

She said: “I know people can feel isolated when they do crafts at home.

“We are going to run some clubs including card making, knitting and jewellery making, and people can come along for a cup of tea and a chat.”

Two years ago Vanessa was asked to run a craft class for people with learning difficulties.

Although it was out of her comfort zone, the former teacher at Adult Community Learning in Clacton said she loved coming up with ideas for the students.

Her new shop has three sections - a retail section selling craft resources, the workshop, and a gallery where artists can display their wares.

Vanessa said: “Crafters can rent a shelf from me and they can show off what they do.

“The community has been really behind us, I really wanted to open the shop on this high street as a really like it down here.

“I want to thank everyone.”