A new convenience store offering a taste of India, including Mumbai-style street food and hard-to-find spices has opened in Bishops Stortford.

RM Local has filled a gap in the Hertforshire town, taking over a premises that was vacant for two years. Owners Rekha Joshi and husband Mahesh Patel are aiming to become a hub for the community, having already spoken to charities in the area to get involved.

The store opened on April 8, ahead of schedule and before it had received its full alcohol licence.

“We weren’t 100% ready but we wanted to open it. We’ve had lots of people coming in and telling us it’s just what they needed and telling us what else they’d like to see,” Rekha Joshi told Retail Express.

“People would have to travel to London or Leicester to get the spices. These spices and the food are going to be a huge percentage of our business, judging by customer reaction.”