Shirley Williams, who runs the Priory Coffee Shop in Ross-on-Wye, had a terrific surprise on Saturday, March 10th when she arrived to open up. Waiting for her was a Japanese pastry chef and a camera crew.

Shusaku Hayashi is visiting the UK for two weeks picking up ideas for cakes and treats to serve in his famous bakery and coffee shop in Japan.

He is being filmed during his travels and this will be put together for a television programme when he returns home.

He was able to sample the lemon drizzle cake, which he loved, and he told Shirley that he will be making that when he returns to Japan.

Shirley told the Ross Gazette, “It was not what I was expecting at 8.45am on a Saturday morning but I really enjoyed it.”

She said, “Maybe I will feature on Japanese television when his series is aired.”See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here