A 20-year-old bun entrepreneur is providing the borough with tasty cinnamon buns, after using baking to help battle a debilitating illness.

Ben Michael, who lives and bakes from his parent's house in Ealing, has channelled his love of cinnamon buns into a rapidly popular business, Benji's Buns, as well as a recovery tool.

During the first lockdown, Ben was diagnosed with a digestive health problem, leaving his body unable to digest food.

In and out of hospital, Ben spent a year and a bit surviving on biscuits and water.

Although Ben's body physically recovered, he went on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and specifically a trauma of food itself.

Ben said: "I would have panic attacks when I had to go out and be around food."

He lost four stone in less than a year and two jobs due to his illnesses.

However, after over a year of battling his mental illness, in the last few months baking has led Ben down the road to recovery.

Ben said: "I decided to start baking because I thought, if I baked things myself I would conquer my fear of food.

"Everyone who knows me knows I love cinnamon buns. So I baked for my friends and family, and it got to the point where I thought, I'm on to something here as people really liked them."

Ben said he received an outpouring of support, not just from Ealing but from people across the world.

"Every bun I make and sell I feel a sense of hope, it's not just a cinnamon bun, it's something that has healed me and I hope it will inspire others."

He added: "It's a miracle story no-one thought possible. People are still in shock that I'm cooking and eating.

"If I hadn't got ill I wouldn't have this business, it was born out of something bad, but into something good."

Just a month in, and Ben has already had orders from as far afield as Germany, as he tries to keep up with the rapid demand.

Last week, he made the bold decision to quit his job as an estate agent to focus full-time on his business.

His ambition is to set up a proper store and bakery, so he can deliver across London.

He hopes to gain investment soon to cope with the rapid demand, and get him out of his parent's kitchen.

"My parents want their kitchen back, and they're both trying to loose weight! But they are really happy and thrilled I'm doing it."

Currently, you can find Ben and his buns at Dickens Yard market on Saturdays.

Customers can choose from chocolate, vanilla frosted and original glazed, with a six-pack of original glazed buns at £15, or a bun selection for £18.

The cinnamon buns are all homemade, fresh and 100% vegan.

Online orders are currently available for delivery or collection in Ealing, W5 or W13.

Visit Ben's website or find him on Instagram and Facebook @benjisbuns.