A SUPERMARKET says sales and customers in its cafe have increased significantly since smoking was banned.

Morrison's, in Morton Park, Darlington, has reported a rise in people using its cafe since the change to smoking laws on January 30.

Smoking was permitted in area of the cafe until Morrison's extended a smoke-free policy throughout to keep up with customer demand.

Paul Lee, general manager, said: "We publicised that the cafe was to have smoking facilities removed in plenty of time to ensure that our valued customers knew about the change and to give plenty of notice to our customers who did smoke in the cafe.

"Over the past four weeks, we have noticed a significant rise in customer numbers and in particular, we are attracting an increased number of mothers and children in the cafe."