A CELEBRITY chef and Town Crier added a sense of occasion to the reopening of a popular deli after a renovation costing £750,000.

The grand opening of Thomas of Helmsley saw well-known Yorkshire chef Stephanie Moon preparing a range of fresh food to inspire people to cook at home.

Demonstrating interesting ways to use products available within the deli, from freshly baked artisan bread to sausages and stir fries, visitors were able to try samples and ask questions of Ms Moon who has worked in kitchens across the world, including The Dorchester.

Helmsley’s record-breaking town crier, David Hinde, also put in an appearance and heralded the reopening with a specially written cry, sharing some of the history of the shop, which dates back to the 1800s.

The major renovation work has enabled the creation of high grade kitchen and butchery preparation areas, allowing the deli to offer a much wider range of products.

Manager Simon Thomas said: “The opening event went really well, it was fantastic to see so much going on, and to feel the buzz in the store.

Ms Moon added: “It was a fabulous day - the people of Helmsley took great interest in the food being produced and all seemed to really enjoy the samples we made."

The store will be running regular themed tasting events on weekends before Christmas, to introduce some of the new items available.

Thomas the Baker, is a family business employing three generations of the Thomas family.

Established in 1981 with the opening of a bakery in Malton, Helmsley followed a year later and the chain now has 30 shops across Yorkshire.