A FAMILY-RUN café that was destroyed by an arson attack earlier this year is to reopen – inside a bus.

Rosie Hodgson, and her husband Stewart, discovered the horrifying sight of their burnt out Cozy Coffee café, on the outskirts of Brafferton, near Darlington, in September.

The cafe, which was built from scratch by Mr Hodgson, opened in May 2015, but all that remained following the blaze was the charred remains of what had been described as "the best thing to happen to Brafferton" by customers.

But just two months later, the family have unveiled plans to create the “new Cozy Coffee” inside a single-decker bus.

“The challenge now is to turn a tired, cute little bus into a fun, vibrant, lively, happy and loveable café," said Mrs Hodgsob.

“With masses of imagination and thought it will be possible.”

Mrs Hodgson said she decided to purchase the stationary bus to maintain the “quirkiness” of Cozy Coffee.

Following the fire, a GoFundMe page was set up by James Wren, a friend of the Hodgson family, which raised more than four times its original target of £1,000 in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“It is because of the amazing fund raising that we have been able to move forward and make progress.

“We want to say thank you again to the very generous donations.”

When the original Cozy Coffee was opened more than two years, it was used for hen parties and meetings about plans to build a bypass through the village to the A1(M), that were unveiled earlier this year.

It also proved popular with cyclists, walkers and groups of elderly people, who Mrs Hodgson said the café had been a “lifeline” for.

Speaking after the fire in September, Mrs Hodgson said: I am devastated – it was my life, my business, and it has been a real thriving social hub for the community.

"The worst bit was seeing it burnt to the floor and realising there was nothing to salvage - you can’t rake amongst the remains and pick up little bits.

“I always wanted a coffee shop – I love baking cakes and talking to people. I thought I had found a really nice place.

“I cannot understand why someone would do this. They don’t understand the impact - it is such a big loss for the community.

The café is expected to be open in the spring.