AN AWARD-winning chef who has run restaurants across North Yorkshire and North-East since 1976 has been declared bankrupt.

Eugene McCoy, 63, who used to own and run the famous Cleveland Tontine, filed for bankruptcy at Middlesbrough County Court.

Mr McCoy recenly relaunched The Crathorne Arms, near Yarm, and it is understood the bankruptcy relates to his time at the Tontine. The Crathorne Arms operation is unaffected by the action and is trading normally.

Mr McCoy, whose actress daughter Maimie is starring as Milady de Winter in The Musketeers, was unavailable for comment.

The restaurateur stepped down from running the Tontine restaurant, Osmotherley, near Northallerton, last summer, where he won a string of accolades including North East Restaurant of the Year and the Egon Ronay best restaurant award.

Other restaurants Mr McCoy has run include McCoys Brasserie, in Newcastle, and the Rooftop Restaurant at the Baltic, Gateshead.