A tiny coffee shop on the banks of the River Mersey in Trafford has become a 'godsend' for locals during lockdown.

Riverbank Coffee operates from a converted shipping container, tucked in among the trees on the water's edge between Urmston and Sale.

There's no car access, but thanks to multiple lockdowns there's been no shortage of footfall heading near this hidden gem.

On any given day of the week you'll find bikes piled up in the entrance, dogs waiting patiently for a biscuit from the communal dog treat tin, and families queueing up for a homemade snack.

It's in a scenic spot on the riverbank

When lockdown restrictions have allowed, small clusters of chairs surround the coffee pod - the rest of the time, people grab a coffee while out on their dog walk or bike ride and move swiftly along.

The business was launched last June by a small team of locals, including the couple who own the farm on which Riverbank Coffee stands.

Although it's a new venture, co-owner Jackie Kilcourse says she's dreamed of owning a coffee shop for decades.

She said: "There was a lot of people on the banks of the Mersey once lockdown began last year, so the footfall was already there.

Dane Smith and Jackie Kilcourse

"We just popped up as a sort of surprise and word just grew and grew.

"We'd have a busy weekend and think 'Whoa that was mad' and then the next day we'd be even busier again.

"We started off just serving coffee and cold drinks but people started asking for hot food so we started doing homemade pies, sausage rolls and cakes.

Riverbank's homemade sausage rolls

"News spreads so quickly with social media, in between lockdowns we've had people coming from miles away."

Her business partner Dane Smith, who has left his job with the ambulance service to focus on Riverbank Coffee full-time, added: "We open at 8 o'clock in the morning and we see our regular commuters who get their coffee and head to work, then at 10am we have couples out for a walk, we have keen cyclists who'll phone us and say they're going on a 40-mile bike ride in poor weather and want to check we'll be open.

Locals say it's been a 'godsend'

"Families, charity groups, mums with young babies, groups of runners, we see such a range of people.

"The homemade sausage rolls go down an absolute storm. We literally have people emailing us to say they've heard about them and check we have them in stock!

"People just rave about them, they go mad for them."

Speaking of the reaction the business has had from the local community, Jackie said: "On a good day it feels lovely, the amount of people who have taken the effort to tell us how much they appreciate it and how it's been a godsend to them in lockdown.

"Just for people to have somewhere to go with peace and quiet, and they can sort of forget what's going on.

"We follow the guidelines but because we're outside it's not too in your face, you can feel like you're going somewhere and escape.

"It's peaceful and quiet and in a lovely setting on the river - in summer it's so lovely.

"It's been hard work, a lot harder than we all thought. We did not expect it to be this busy.

"It's been quite challenging but I wouldn't swap it."