AN environmentally-friendly no-smoking coffee shop opened in Darlington yesterday.

Coffee Bamber, in the ground floor of the Cornmill Centre, sells fair trade teas and coffees and sandwiches in biodegradable packaging.

Although it joins a string of other coffee shops in the town, owner John Wheeler said: "The coffee shop market is increasing year on year and I think there is room for each of us.

"We've been planning and researching this for two years and we offer something different to the other coffee bars in the area.

"People want to come into a non-smoking environment, and my idea was that I wanted something environmentally friendly."

A former hotelier, Mr Wheeler plans to open more Coffee Bamber shops in Stockton and Bishop Auckland.

The Darlington shop is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 10.30am to 5pm on Sundays.