A PIG and arable farming couple have created an oasis for motorists on the busy trans-Pennine A66.

Mr Paul Barkes, aged 41, and his wife Jo, who is 33, have converted Thorpe Farm Peel House, near Greta Bridge, into a gourmet farm shop and coffee shop with a difference.

As well as selling mainly local produce and home-cooked food, the Georgian peel house will feature a local history exhibition, pointing out places of interest in the area with details of their historic background.

The farm and house has been owned by the Barkes family since 1936, when it was sold by the nearby Rokeby estate.

The former police house has been completely restored and includes original features such as fireplaces, oak beams and a kitchen range. The old police cell has been incorporated into the entrance to the shop and Mr and Mrs Barkes have kept the character of the house intact.

"We've been looking to do something in this sort of line for about five years," said Mr Barkes. "It wasn't really diversification that spurred us on; we just wanted to get closer to the consumer."

As well as selling their own home-cured hams and sausages, the shop features freshly baked bread, which can be made while you wait; ready-cooked meals from the resident chef, and a selection of wines, jams and preserves.

The coffee shop also has home-cooked food, including breakfasts, lunches, cakes and desserts.

The deli shop opened five weeks ago and the coffee shop has been open for three weeks.

"We have already had some fantastic reaction from local people and from people who say they have travelled the A66 for years and have always wanted somewhere nice to stop and have a coffee," said Mr Barkes.

"We can offer them something a bit out of the ordinary, but we are still capable of turning people around fairly quickly if they are in a hurry."

The peel house also has rooms upstairs which can be used for business meetings for up to 20 people during the week.

Mr Barkes said he and his wife were very keen to work in partnership with other businesses in the area. As well as obtaining more local produce for the shop, they would like to see small businesses using some of the farm's outbuildings in the future.

He added: "If the demand is there, we have got the potential to rent out workshops for cottage industries."

Thorpe Farm Peel House is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am-5pm on Sunday.