The ‘nanas’ have come to the rescue of families barred from taking picnics or kiddies’ bikes into BT’s Live fun site enclosure in Victoria Park to watch the Olympics on the Big Screen.

Two grandmothers running a mobile hot dog and hamburger stall just outside the enclosure entrance in London’s East End are looking after picnics and bikes while families enjoyed their time inside and handed them back on the way out as a goodwill gesture.

“You see a kid’s face when he can’t take his little scooter onto the site,” said hot dog seller Cherie Brett, 43, from Bow, who has six grandchildren herself.

“We can’t let them down—we’re both grannies, so we tell them we’ll look after their toys and their picnics while they’re enjoying themselves.”

The ‘nanas’ even took care of someone’s unicycle who wasn’t allowed to take it in.

Serving each day with Cherie is Kim Duffield, 45, from Poplar, who has five grandchildren.

She said: “It’s a shame they’re not allowed to take food in. A lot of people come to Vicky Park park and don’t realise the Live site is here till they arrive, so they don’t know you can’t take bikes and sandwiches in.”

One disappointed woman who arrived with her granddaughter was turned away—until the ‘hot dog nanas’ stepped in.

Kim Crow, 55, had prepared sandwiches at her home in Roman Road, Bethnal Green, for six-year-old Lillie.

But security guards searching her carrier bag found the forbidden food.

“It’s a bit over the top,” she told the Advertiser. “It’s like getting on a plane at Gatwick.

“I’ve done a nice picnic for Lillie, but we can’t take it in or take in our own drinks.

“They said I could take fruit in, but not if it’s in a sandwich. I can’t see the difference.”

She could buy sandwiches there, she was told, but found them expensive.

“We can’t afford those prices,” she added.

There’s no warning that home-made food is banned until you arrive at the entrance, she points out. It’s only the ‘hot dog nanas’ who have saved the day.