SILENCE is not just a virtue but a way of life for customers at a newly opened County Durham cafe.

The Silent Tea House, in Newton Aycliffe, is believed to be one of, if not the only, cafes for the deaf community in the UK.

Found within the Love Thy Cupcake shop, on Beveridge Way, the venture caters for everybody, including those who are hard of hearing and whose first language is signing.

It is run by Margaret Bain, 47, who was brought up by deaf parents and has always dreamed of setting up a tea house for a community she is "so passionate" about.

"They (the deaf community) miss out on communication and here they are able to come in and relax and use their first language," she said. "It's all vintage, there's a lovely atmosphere, it's very welcoming, friendly and not over crowded."

Ms Bain has been a British Sign Language trainee interpreter for six years and now splits her working life between the cafe, New College Durham where she is a care support worker and Woodham Golf Club in the role as wedding coordinator and toast master.

Motivated by her late father's wish to pursue her love of working with the deaf community, she opened the cafe before the New Year.

It has already attracted a number of regulars but Ms Bain wants to spread the word in an area where she says there is little provision for the hearing-impaired.

She claims there is nothing else like it in the UK but is aware of similar cafes in Canada and New Zealand.

Customers can order by voice or sign language and not everyone who uses the facility is hard of hearing.

Anyone is welcome and Ms Bain is even on hand to teach the basic level in communication in sign language as she serves - free of charge.

Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm, the mother-of-two intends to extend hours and plan events later this year.

She also hopes to recruit deaf people in the future in order to get them out of unemployment and "give them an opportunity".

For more information visit the cafe or email thesilentteahouse@outlook.com