FLAMBOYANT Ava Payne was so fed up with being called “A Pain” she dropped her name for something altogether more deliciious.

Ava Truly Scrumptious, of Hardwick, Banbury, said she changed her surname to fit her lively personality – and her job as a personal image coach.

After toying with Divine, Adorable and even Tinkerbell, the mother-of-one settled on her new name after being inspired by the Truly Scrumptious character made famous in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The 45-year-old owner of Freedom2Dress.com, who says she aims to make clients “look and feel good on the inside and out”, said there had been a terrific response to her new name.

She said: “I’m proud of my family name. I’ve always thought a lot of it and I gave it to my son.

“But it sounds like ‘pain’. People on the phone were asking to speak to ‘Ms A Payne’ and I didn’t like it; I wanted something that was more ‘me’.

“I’m quite a flamboyant person and I wanted a name that is a reflection of me – and the fact my business is all about looking and feeling good.”

The former beauty consultant said the name change had been at the back of her mind for about 10 years. And in April she contacted UK Deed Poll paying £55 for the change.

She said: “I looked up what the words really meant. Truly means genuine and honest, and Scrumptious means delicious and delightful.

“I thought it was perfect. It’s nice when you ring up your gas or phone company and they say ‘Good morning Ms Scrumptious’. I feel like I’m spreading a bit of joy and happiness.”

However, she added: “I did ring up one electricity company for a refund – and they couldn’t issue a cheque because they didn’t believe my name was real.”

She said her family, including son Noah Payne, 23, have got used to the name. She added: “If you’ve got a great name you’ll be remembered.”

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk