A FORMER Richmondshire councillor has launched a new business.

David Cowell, who sat on Richmondshire District Council as an independent in the Eighties, is well-known in Wensleydale.

Mr Cowell, previously of Adair Asset Management, has launched a financial and investment services company called Myddleton Croft, in Leeds.

He is joined by his son, Chris, and Sue Durrant, a former director of Nichols Williams Durrant.

Pat Wood and Nicci Dugdale will deal with administration.

Mr Cowell said: "Chris is second-in-command, which makes it a real family firm. He started helping me in my previous company when he was just ten-years-old, so it was inevitable he'd get involved eventually."