A HUSBAND and wife team have opened a new Italian restaurant – with a little help from their daughter.

Chris and Gemma Holloway have launched Lucia's Italian Kitchen on the site of the former Joe Rigatoni's restaurant in High Street, Yarm, which the couple ran for five years.

Their five-year franchise deal on the venue ended this month, and they have now decided to go their own way, naming the restaurant after their three-year-old daughter, Lucy.

The majority of the 15 workers who worked with the Holloways at their previous restaurant will stay on at Lucia's alongside new culinary staff.