A DEVOTED mum has scooped an award for her chocolate-making business which she started for her dairy-intolerant son.

Louise Harrison, from Backwell, won the spark category at this year’s Mumpreneur Awards, which celebrates mums who have set up their own companies.

More than 3,000 businesses across the country entered the competition and Louise was presented with the accolade for making the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time.

The 36-year-old mum-of-two said: “I couldn’t believe it. I’m really pleased to have won the award.

“I started the business when one of my little boys developed a dairy intolerance. He was really ill with a bad tummy and cutting out dairy was the only thing that helped.

“I wanted him to continue to enjoy food and treats, but I got to know the market and realised there wasn’t a lot of choice.”

Louise, who has a background in graphic design, decided to create her own range of artisan chocolate which is suitable for people with dairy, gluten, wheat and nut allergies and vegans.

Her indulgent treats are made from rice milk, which she says tastes just like milk chocolate. The chocolates come in four animal shapes - orange frogs, dark mint owls, bears and sheep.

Louise also sells knackali - hand-made chocolate discs decorated with cocoa butter patterns - and 50g bars. Her next plan is to make slabs of chocolate.

Her products are now available in 34 shops and garden centres including Backwell Post Office and Cadbury Garden Centre in Congresbury.

She is also hoping to open her own unit in Market Industrial Estate, Yatton, in the new year.

Her chocolate is currently available on her website at www.cocoalibre.co.uk