Local legend has devoted herself to helping the most vulnerable when times are tough.

Grandmother Florence Coke is treasured in her community. Known to all as Mama Flo, the 71-year-old is best known for her much-loved Caribbean takeaway restaurant in the heart of Stockport where she not only feeds her regulars, but makes sure no-one goes hungry.

Over the years she has fed pensioners for free over Christmas, helped families through the cost-of-living crisis by offering free lunches to children in the summer holidays, and she provided free meals during the pandemic.

Flo’s Buxton Road restaurant, Mama Flo’s, which has served Caribbean classics including curried goat and jerk chicken since opening in 2013, has been given the thumbs up by famous faces including actor Will Mellor and footballers Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire. A few months ago, Flo was taken aback when music legend Billy Ocean walked through the doors. But it’s her community – and her food – that means the most to Flo.

Flo, who has eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren, says: “When I was a small kid growing up in Jamaica, my Dad and my Mum were very, very hardworking farmers. My parents would put out loads of plates to feed people in the community. I grew up with this mentality of doing what I saw my parents do, so I’ve been doing this for years.”

Flo started feeding people for free after she saw a lot of kids hanging around making trouble in the neighbourhood. They would steal food, so she decided to start talking to them and invite them in for their lunch. The kids would hug her and thank her.

She adds: “My typical day is filled with joy and fun. I tell people my story and they tell me theirs. I provide for thousands of people because if they don’t have money, they still need to eat. I can’t stop giving out free meals because there are people who sleep outside, homeless people, and during winter I give them blankets. My cooking comes from pure love. If I didn’t do it from my heart, I couldn’t still be doing it. I don’t like to see anyone go hungry, not in a million years.”

Flo’s daughter Seleciah Williams says: “My mum always says that her dad told her, if you’ve got food and you’ve got enough, instead of throwing any leftovers away, give it to someone who’s less fortunate than you. You should always share it. Now I tell my kids the same.”

Flo’s granddaughter Caprice Coke adds: “My Nan is a role model, she’s a Queen, she’s everything and I’m so grateful to have her in my life.”