The 40-year-old mum is the proud new owner of a Falkirk confectionery shop which she officially opened for business again last week.

Granny's Sookers in the Cow Wynd may offer a huge range of sugary delights but Marie has a special reason for buying the shop ... she wants to sell 'healthy' sweets and is convinced there is a huge market for such products.

She said: "Unfortunately, there are lots of youngsters out there with food intolerance and, although it is possible to source sweets that they can eat, people don't always know where to look.

"When I heard this sweetie shop was available I thought it was a perfect opportunity to be able to provide sweets that children who have restricted diets could enjoy. It's taken me a while to get everything sorted out but now that it's open I'm determined to have as many different sweets as possible."

Originally from Grangemouth and now living in Stenhousemuir, Marie has first-hand knowledge of the problems of coping with a child who has food intolerance. One of her own children has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and follows a gluten free cassien free diet which makes many sweets taboo.

Marie added: "As well as my own child, I've got friend's children who have food intolerances to dairy products and nuts. These youngsters can't have things that others take for granted – such as a chocolate advent calendar or sweets at a birthday party.

"They maybe seem small things to some but all are part of a normal child's life and there's no reason why they can't have them because alternatives are out there."

She also hopes to work with healthcare groups, including Diabetes UK, the Autism Society and the Coeliac Society, to identify sweets which people with certain conditions can safely enjoy.

Marie, who also finds time to run Denny-based Corporate Washroom Services, said: "I'm really excited about the shop. I love a new project and this one means a lot to me so I'm determine to make it succeed."