A 100-YEAR-OLD former employee of a popular North Yorkshire department store has returned to officially open a new £400,000 restaurant.

The family-owned Barkers in Northallerton invited their oldest surviving former staff member, Anne Coward from Romanby, to open the new-look restaurant – where she had worked for 23 years as a cook.

She was joined by Guy Barker, 26-year-old son of managing director Charles Barker, as Barkers celebrates its past and future in an event in the revamped first-floor restaurant.

Work started in April to create a luxury 180-seater restaurant, with new flooring, lighting, counters, chairs and entrance, along with an area selling gift food, biscuits and sweet and savoury treats.

Mrs Coward joined Barkers at the age of 55 in 1970 and loved it so much she didn't retire until 1993 at the age of 78.

She was initially employed for her baking prowess, producing delicious scones, cakes and pastries, before later taking over meat preparation and cooking joints, baked hams and making steak and kidney pies. She later stepped up to chef and ran the kitchen, ordering food and writing and preparing menus.

She said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my 23 years cooking at Barkers and the friendships I formed with colleagues, which is why I didn't retire until I was 78.

"I got so much satisfaction from cooking food for customers during my time at Barkers and receiving their feedback.

"I was delighted and honoured to be asked to perform the opening ceremony for the newly refurbished restaurant."

Charles Barker said: "We are delighted to welcome Anne back to the store as she was an extremely popular and respected member of staff, who is still remembered very fondly by us all.

“We are a family business, which has been part of Northallerton for a long time and we plan to be around for a long time.

“We thought we would celebrate our history and look to the future by inviting Anne and Guy to perform the opening ceremony.

"We are delighted with the work on the new restaurant and we hope our customers will enjoy it."

The new restaurant is part of a £3.5m redevelopment project currently being undertaken by the family-run Northallerton business.

Work is also underway on the extension of Barkers Furnishing Store in Yafforth Road, Northallerton, to expand the business by 20,000 square feet to create a new section for contemporary furniture, homeware and accessories.