A CATERING van parked up in a layby on a main road near Hereford could soon shut down because of low customer numbers.
Joy Parkes parks up in the layby near Tarrington Common, on the A438 between Hereford and Ledbury from 9am until 2pm Tuesdays to Fridays.
But despite trying initiatives to drum up more trade, she said she her business, with a five-star food hygiene rating, is "really struggling".
Catering van owner Joy Parkes is struggling to make ends meet due to the lack of business. Picture: Rob Davies
The Hereford businesswoman, who's behind Gilbert's Catering, started trading from the layby in July.
She said: "If we don’t start getting the customers in I will have to see about closing and I really don’t want to do that as I love it here."
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She tried offering takeaway Sunday dinners between 11am and 4pm, but this failed to attract new customers – despite offering a choice of two meats, a selection of vegetables and all the trimmings, as well as puddings, for £10.
On top of trading from the layby, Ms Parkes said she is also available for events.
Joy Parkes looks at what profit she has made, if any, over the past few days. Picture: Rob Davies
She said she wasn't sure why customer numbers were so low.
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She said maybe it was just the way of the world, or maybe drivers just were not used to her being there.
She said: "I really don’t know. I love the layby and what I do but I just wish we had more customers."
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