HOW about helping yourself to a small slice of the Malton retail cake by opening up a patisserie in the market town?

Now that the former Choices video shop in St Michaels Street has closed in a national restructuring of the chain, the landlord would like to see a patisserie there.

Isn't that marketing a bit too specific? Not if the landlord is Fitzwilliam Estates, which owns a large proportion of the town centre shops and has an overview of the town's needs.

Estate manager Roddy Bushell said: "Malton has a growing reputation as a town where shoppers can buy high-quality local produce.

"It is well served by fresh meat, wet fish, fruit and vegetable suppliers and has a variety of bakers and delis. What is missing to complete the mix is a patisserie.

"The town would make an excellent place for expansion or even for someone looking to relocate their business from an area of intense competition to one where there is great opportunity."

The premises, on the corner of Malton's busy Wheelgate, has a ground floor sales unit of 733 sq ft and first floor of 679 sq ft.

Rental is £18,500 per year.

What are the other attractions for potential patisserie owners? Well, Malton has a catchment area of 22,000 people, while 34,000 people live within ten miles of the town and it is the business centre of the district of Ryedale.

Malton enjoys a low level of unemployment and a higher than average number of self-employed.

Ryedale District Council has its headquarters in the town, employing about 250.

The town has a mix of national and multiple retailers, and attractive independently owned local shops.