A DARLINGTON couple have taken over the reins at a Leyburn chocolate-making business.

The Little Chocolate Shop in Leyburn is now being run by husband-and-wife team Richard and Yvonne Warne.

They are no stranger to the grocery business as Mr Warne’s grandfather, Ken, founded a local supermarket chain, which still has branches in Richmond, Darlington and Spennymoor.

After being made redundant as a supply chain manager, Mr Warne started-up a new business supplying hampers: Delivered-Gifts.

He said: “It has gone really well and has grown to the extent that we needed some premises if we were to have an alcohol licence.

“I saw the Little Chocolate Shop was for sale and thought it was a fantastic opportunity and ripe for development.”

The business is more than a shop, it is a factory producing more than 60 different types of their own hand-crafted chocolates and gifts on the shop premises.

They receive several thousand visitors a year who can watch their team of three full-time and two part-time skilled chocolatiers create an amazing array of treats.

The couple have big plans for the business’s development and already opening on Sundays to attract visitors in an area where tourism is king.

Their café serves a new type of coffee and all their cakes are now freshly-made on-site; other plans they are keeping to themselves, for now.

They have made contact with the Lower Wensleydale Business Network and intend to support the town’s upcoming food festival

Mr Warne said: “It is a fantastic place; we are so lucky to have such fantastic team working here, they are brilliant and do a great job.”