Warwick's much-loved 'Potato Lady,' Nina Kelly, has made a heartfelt return to the town after months away recovering from a serious shoulder injury. 

Earlier this year, Nina launched a fundraising campaign to help save her beloved business, Posh Potatoes. 

The funds raised went towards helping to keep her business afloat while Nina recovered from a broken shoulder, which she recieved after a fall.

The fall left Nina unable to drive or lift anything for at least three months, and so, she had to take a step back from her business and livelihood.

Nub News caught up with Nina, who, although not yet back to a full schedule, is making a return to her space in the heart of Warwick's Market Place.

Community support

Nina expressed that the support she's received from the Warwick community since launching the fundraiser has been nothing short of amazing.

"The response was phenomenal," she said.

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"I simply wouldn't be back in the square now without the most amazing support from family, friends, complete strangers, and the whole community of Warwick. 

"I am still here because of them, and them alone."

Nina's fundraiser gained momentum quickly, thanks in part to media coverage and a viral push from the infamous Spudman, who called upon his "potato army" to help.

The Tamworth potato seller, whose real name is Ben Newman, has around 4.2 million followers on TikTok, shared a video in May, directing people to Nina's GoFundMe page. 

In the video he said: "I have chucked some money in.

"If any of you lot, by any chance, could chuck 50p, a pound in, we would get there very quickly with the amazing Spud Army."

Expressing her gratitude Nina said: "It was phenomenal and the money that was raised from that fund literally paid my bills and kept the business alive. 

"It was unbelievable."

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After returning to Posh Potatoes, Nina's comeback was met with an emotional homecoming. 

She expressed: "I spent the whole of Monday in tears, the welcome I had from everyone was overwhelming.

However, Nina explained she can't jump straight back into a five-day week just yet.

"At the moment I'm doing a couple of days at a time, listening to my body, and easing back in gently. 

"The shoulder still gets sore, and windy days make it impossible to set up, but just being back has been amazing" she said. 

Nina expressed that the support she's received from the Warwick community since launching the fundraiser has been nothing short of amazing (image via Nina Kelly)

Looking Ahead

In terms of recovering from her injury, Nina has not got about 90 percent of her movement back in her shoulder joint. 

The main problem is the muscle in her bicep, which has "pretty much wasted away."

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"I'm used to hurling 20-kilo bottles of gas around, and so the other arm is still really strong, but I've got to start trying to build that muscle back in this arm now.

"The problem is trying to find that fine line between working it to encourage it to grow and damaging it" she explained.

Although her old van is still in use and the hoped-for new vehicle remains on hold, Nina's sights are set on the bigger dream: turning her little Warwick premises into a proper retail shop.

Nina stated: "The real end of the story would be to see the shop open. 

"That would be the finale.

"But for now, I'm just so, so grateful to be back in the square and I can't thank everyone enough for keeping me going."

Although her old van is still in use and the hoped-for new vehicle remains on hold, Nina's sights are set on the bigger dream: turning her little Warwick premises into a proper retail shop (image via Nina Kelly)