A TOY shop boss is reversing retail trends by opening a High Street store following the success of her website.

Lorraine Webb has opened of Tom’s Toys at Lever Street, Little Lever.

The 40-year-old says she is championing independent businesses and hopes to fill a gap in the toy shop market.

Mrs Webb attended Little Lever High School and Bolton College and worked for Vertex, an outsourcing firm linked to the former Norweb power company.

Later, she became a business analyst for Blackburn Council. The mother-of-two initially set up a toy website, tomstoys.co.uk, while on maternity leave after having her youngest child, Thomas, who the new shop is named after.

She said: “I was on maternity leave for 18 months and the business ideas just progressed from there.

“I went back to work at the council but remained interested in developing my business further.

“I thought there was a gap in the toy shop market to offer different things to big chains like Toys ‘R’ Us and Argos. This shop sells traditional wooden toys, gifts and special presents that could be given as first birthday presents.

“There are traditional toy shops in towns like Hebden Bridge but I think there is space for them elsewhere and believe passionately in these products.”

Mrs Webb says she tries to use independent businesses and suppliers where she can.

She added: “We are interested in working with other independent firms in a variety of ways. For example, we have been dealing with Glyn Wakley, who runs the Bolton-based northwestcycles.co.uk and has all sorts of bikes and scooters.”

Mrs Webb’s husband, David, aged 38, created the website and has helped with the new shop’s opening.

The couple have also being building the business’s presence on social media.

Their daughter, 17-yearold Lauren, a former Little Lever High School pupil now studying at Bury’s Holy Cross Sixth Form College, helps in the shop on a part-time basis.

Mrs Webb said: “Being from Little Lever, I knew there were some shops available.

“We met the landlord to discuss this shop and it became available.

“There has been a debate in Little Lever about the new Tesco development but I would have opened the shop here regardless of that. It’s a good place to be based.”