A HEALTHY eating cafe has been put up for sale only 18 months after it opened.

David Evans opened That Juice Place, in Skinnergate, Darlington, to operate a juice bar and sell a range of health foods based around the Government's five-a-day initiative.

But last month, Mr Evans was forced to put the business up for sale with Northgate estate agents.

He said that so far he had taken three inquiries from people interested in the business.

Mr Evans has recently increased the cafe's potential.

Only last week he extended the opening hours to include a set evening menu.

He also became the first business in Skinnergate to provide continental-style seating outside his cafe.

Mr Evans said: "This is just a cautionary plan.

"Trading has been difficult in the last year in the town.

"We have had concerns about attracting people back into the town who have gone elsewhere in the meantime.

"The council has been doing a lot about it and that is a good thing."