Local entrepreneur Dawn Gibbins has brought Bromley Road Laundry – now called Barefoot Laundry - and she kicked off the venture with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance to bless the business.

Dawn said: “We are thrilled that so many people came to see the Lion Dance, which is a fabulous, colourful and invigorating event.

”The Chinese consider the lion dance to be a vehicle for dispensing all the good blessings of heaven to a whole company and the people within.

“It is done on auspicious occasions and represents the hopes and aspirations of the people for all the good things life holds. We feel it’s the perfect way to mark the launch of the Barefoot Laundry.”

A regular user of the laundry service, Dawn was approached several months ago by staff who asked if she would take the venture on, when it was put up for sale.

The company has been rebranded as the Barefoot Laundry because the name fits in with Dawn’s new flooring and lifestyle brand, Barefoot. The laundry is being managed by Ann Bagnall.

Dawn added: “The laundry is a real gem. It does a great service for people in and around Congleton and I was delighted to be able to buy into the business.

“I never expected to buy a laundry, but it is such a brilliant, well-organised company, with happy, friendly staff and a useful delivery service, that I thought it made a great proposition.

Picture: Anne Bagnel, co founder of the laundry, with Dawn Gibbins