A DRINKS company in the North-East is to launch the country's first sugar-free alcopops.

Sunderland-based Alcohol Brands has developed the Baby Blue and Baby Pink sugar-free drinks as an alternative to traditional alcopops such as WKD and Smirnoff Ice.

Owner Lorraine Griffiths, who came up with the idea while working in the bar and club industry, expects to see the wine-based drinks sold at venues across the region from next month.

She said: "I did quite a lot of research and then worked with a number of different providers to set up the new brand.

"There has already been a lot of interest in it and a number of major operators in the North-East and in the North-West have agreed to stock it."

Ms Griffiths is hoping that her sugar-free drinks will eventually be sold nationwide.