A FAMILY-run restaurant is proving a hit with England football coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The Swede stopped for a meal at Sardi's Mediterranean restaurant in Darlington on Saturday night with partner Italian Nancy Dell'olio.

Eriksson had earlier watched the Newcastle United game against Manchester United at St James' Park.

It is thought he may have been staying in the North-East overnight before catching the Middlesbrough-Arsenal game at the Riverside Stadium yesterday.

Sardi's, in Northgate, proved popular with the England team and staff in June when the squad were training at nearby Hurworth before their game against Slovakia in Middlesbrough.

A customer at Sardis said yesterday: "Sven and Nancy came in at about 9pm.

"Everyone recognised them and people were asking if they could send over champagne and get autographs, but the waiters didn't want to bother them.

"I think they just wanted a quiet meal."