A LORRY driver will be stepping down from the wheel to bring the exquisite taste of Belgian waffles to Maldon High Street.

Bill Burkett, 68, has been driving lorries for more than 40 years, and now he and his partner Jane Burnett, 52, will bring a different kind of dining cuisine to Maldon.

The Waffle Bar will be able to fit around 28 seated people, and will feature waffles with a huge array of toppings including chocolates, fruits and sauces, as well as milkshakes, ice creams and crepes, with all waffle ingredients being sourced directly from Belgium.

Prices will range from standard waffles of around £3.50, to fully decorated plates at approximately £6. Ten staff members have been employed.

Milkshakes will range in flavours including Malteasers, Milky Way and Ferrero Roche.

Having spent a lot of time in Belgium with family living there, Bill has long been keen to introduce the country’s waffles to the UK.

He said: “We and the family are always enjoying the waffles they have in Belgium, we spend a lot of time in the bars and then wonder why we get fat! I kept saying to Jane that it would go down a storm in England.

“I first had the idea of running it mobile from a van, but the average cost to get that set up would have been £20k, and I knew I could set up a shop for that.”

Bill, a grandfather of 12 from Rayleigh, has no plan to retire anytime soon, and wants to make waffles for as long as he can.

He said: “I once broke my ankle when I was younger, it had me out of work for 10 months, and I was bored out of my skin, I thought if this is retirement then I don’t like it. Age is just a number, and this is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.

“We’ve had so much interest and support from the local council and from neighbouring businesses and residents, we get groups of kids coming in most days asking when we’re opening!

“Some people have said they like the fact that there will be something a bit different coming to the lower end of the High Street, and we really like Maldon, we’d possibly like to live here one day.”

The Waffle Bar will be open 10-5 Monday to Saturday and 11-5 on Sundays. It will be open for business by the weekend of October 16.