A POPULAR cafe in a Darlington park has been taken over by the council to keep it open after a private operator pulled out.

The South Park cafe was closed over the winter period but has now reopened its doors in time for the Easter holidays under the management of Darlington Borough Council.

The cafe will open each day during school holidays and on Saturdays and Sundays during term-time, from 10am to 5pm.

The cafe, close to the bowling greens and the park clock, will serve breakfast, snacks and lunches and also has ice creams and hot drinks.

Lynn Wake, service manager for Darlington Borough Council, said: “It’s such a great café and I know a lot of people have fond memories of coming here as a child so it’s fantastic that we can help future generations to enjoy it.”