SIX months after taking over the reins at a Leyburn chocolate-making business, the new owners have made several changes including a new name.

Earlier this year, husband and wife team, Richard and Yvonne Warne, took over Leyburn’s Little Chocolate Shop and have now renamed it – Inspired Chocolate.

Mr Warne said: “As we had made some changes, we thought it was time for a fresh start.

“Our new name reflects our aim to do more trade and online business and captures what we do.”

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

Inspired Chocolate is more than a shop, it is a factory producing more than 60 different types of their own hand-crafted chocolates and gifts. 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.

Many of their plans for the business’s development are coming to fruition – they already open Sundays to attract additional visitors in an area popular with tourists. Their café has been relocated to brighter and more open aspect at the front of the premises.

Mr Warne said: “We get many regular parties here for evening demonstrations who have a great time creating their own chocolates.

“We all should be inspired by chocolate and why not?”