A MIDDLESBROUGH man is enticing holidaymakers into his Benidorm bar with free parmos.

Michael Harvey launched Harvey’s Bar after living at the popular Spanish resort for 18 months.

In a bid to attract customers, the football fan and his staff have been donning Boro shirts and heading to the beach to hand out free samples of Teesside’s best known dish, the parmesan.

The 27-year-old said: “The results have been amazing as our chefs have prepared thousands of them across the busy, hot summer, with people of all nationalities wanting their own parmo to sample.

“We received another major boost with the success of the Boro’s promotion to the premiership.

“With the lads now playing in the top flight there is a real buzz for the games and expats and holidaymakers are piling in to get that home from home feel.

“The craic is always great and it’s just like being back home in town with all the excitement and anticipation on match day.”

He added: “There’s a Geordie Bar in Benidorm not far away from Harvey’s but I just wanted somewhere that had that red and white Boro feel of friendliness and warmth, with that unique bond we have back at home.”

Mr Harvey left Middlesbrough four years ago to travel the world.

He said: “Little did I know as I left that the old town favourite the parmo would be a key player in the next stage of my life.”