THERE were smiles all round the region yesterday as those with a passion for pasties welcomed the re-opening of Peters The Bakers chain of shops.

Production at the company, which has 71 outlets, stopped when fire ravaged its Durham bakery.

Determined to be back in business quickly, the company took over the former Hibernia Food Factory, in Peterlee, County Durham.

Yesterday, all the company's shops re-opened.

In Durham, the Saddler Street shop had a constant stream of customers delighted to see the return to business.

None were more delighted than Lindsay Deswert, from Chester-le-Street, who is nearly six months' pregnant.

She had developed a craving for the company's pasties before the fire.

She was among the first to visit the shop yesterday, and said: "It has been dreadful while it has been closed."