A COUPLE from London who came to North Yorkshire to start a new life say they have not been put off after an opportunist thief stole money from their café.

Tracey and Ian Morrison took over the Platform One Café on Bedale Station on the Wensleydale railway just 11 weeks ago leaving behind their stressful jobs in London. But on Friday morning a thief took £130 from their till while they were occupied elsewhere.

"We just didn’t realise until Tracey went into the till, and the money had gone. Strangely they left a £20 note and a £5 note. It is a blow but we have had such a fantastic welcome here it has by no means put us off," said Ian.

The couple have now increased security and say they will be a lot more aware in the future. Both originally from Kent they have had a holiday cottage in the Dales for the past three years and found it harder and harder to return to London.

Ian added: "It was the traffic and the smog and the busy streets, it could take up to three hours to get from one side of London to the other, that combined with our stressful jobs so when we saw the café advertised we thought let’s go for it.

"We have been non stop building up the business and we have some awesome customers the local community are absolutely fantastic with some real characters as well as the visitors and tourists. To have that happen was a bit of a shock to the system but it is just one of those things to learn from. It is sad that you have to do that but we are definitely not heading back to London."

A keen motorcyclist Ian who was in the fire service is also keen to encourage cyclists as interest in the sport continues to soar across the region.Tracey was involved in catering in London and does the cooking using as much as possible locally sourced produce.

"We’re certainly intending to stay it is such a fabulous part of the world," added Ian. The café is open every day but Monday over the summer.