A NEW business is about to start trading from the former Cromwell's chocolate shop in Upton which has been bought by a local businessman and his family.

Nick Hannah, of Waterside-based Hannah and Company, says that although he intends to sell chocolates he will not be making them at the Church Street premises, as was the case previously.

Cromwell's went into liquidation in August and its workforce was made redundant. It has since been in the hands of receivers, although the building itself was rented and not owned by the company.

Mr Hannah said he expects the new business to be open by December 1 and that there are plans to expand operations further at the site, although he declined to say what they were.

"We're going to do a lot more but I haven't got it all sorted at the moment," he said.

The front of the listed building will house the shop while the remainder is being renovated, a process that could take months.

Cromwell's traded all over the world before going into liquidation.

"All assets of Cromwell's Chocolates Limited have been disposed of," confirmed Marina Bray, of accountants Smith and Williamson, who have been acting as receivers.

Bill Dovey, chairman of Upton Tourism and Trade Association, welcomed the news that the shop is to reopen. He said: "It'll be nice to see it occupied again. We were all sorry to see Cromwell's fold and it will be good to have the chocolates back in Upton."