AN entrepreneur is using the General Election and the BBC to boost his business.

Damien Pestell - of the Community Oven initiative - has launched a new joint venture with the BBC using the election as a springboard for his most recent diversification.

Damien, 35, from Heathfield has introduced a breakfast butty van to his collection of transformed horse boxes that currently tour the area selling bespoke gourmet pizzas locally.

The “Butty van” is being used by the BBC breakfast show for four weeks in the run-up to the election.

He was contacted by BBC Breakfast three weeks prior to it airing on TV to see if his company could help make the van a reality.

The Community Oven team worked 21 days straight – day and night - to convert the van in time.

The Breakfast Butty van is touring the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland as part of the BBC breakfast election coverage.

It’s being used to gauge the opinions of voters across the country and it’s on the breakfast show every morning serving food to the communities where their broadcast is.

Damien said: “The aim of the Community Oven is to connect people through food and rekindle community spirit through the shared experience of cooking and eating.

“We believe that by doing this we make social connections which are essential to our general social well being and helps create healthier, happier communities.

“After the tragedy in Manchester last week, this simple yet effective ideology seems more important than ever.”

The Community Oven is a mobile wood-fired oven which sells home-made pizzas and bread.

It is a Community interest Company which means its driving force isn’t to make money but to have a positive impact locally.

Damien said: “Basically we’re a community hub on wheels helping to connect people.

“We work closely with young people in the local community.”