A CAFE set up in a community hall has gained an award for its healthy menu.

The Heartbeat Award was presented yesterday to Pelton Fell Community Cafe, run in the village hall, near Chester-le-Street.

It is the first community cafe in the trust area to receive the health award from the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The award is presented to caterers who meet a set of criteria on healthy food, hygiene and provision of non-smoking seating.

The cafe was set up nearly two years ago. Cook Rose Kimins said: "We didn't deliberately set out to serve healthy food. We serve vegetarian food, salads, jacket potatoes, roasts. We try to please everybody."

Lady Ann Calman, chairwoman of the PCT, said: "Heart disease is the biggest killer in our community, but by caterers offering healthy choices to their customers, including non-smoking areas, we will be able to work together to raise awareness and reduce deaths.

"I would like to congratulate Pelton Fell Community Cafe on being the first of its kind in the area to gain the award, and hope that other community cafes will strive to achieve the award and become healthier places to eat."