A FORMER village newsagents that was at the heart of the community has reinvented itself.

Eastholme Newsagents, in Rawcliffe, York, has been refurbished and opened as a cafe called Java Bar.

Owner, William Betteridge, 55, who ran the newsagents for 22 years said that the shop faced closure unless it found a new market.

He said: “Two years ago, more and more of our customers here at the newsagents stopped buying a paper. We faced closure. I also had four members of staff who I didn’t want to make redundant and a lot of hard working paper boys.

"So, rather than give in and see another empty shop front in York, we reinvented ourselves.

“We wanted to keep something for our loyal newsagent customers , therefore we created the Java bar, a fully-fledged café that sells and also delivers newspapers, rather than a newsagents that sells sandwiches.”

Mr Betteridge added that the cafe makes a selection of fresh food, including soup, baguettes, paninis, salads and sandwiches.

He said: "We make the best flat white coffee around, the tastiest home made cakes, the fullest of full English breakfasts and the tastiest of lunches.

“What is important too is that our café has become a thriving social centre where people can meet and chat whilst sipping their coffee or eating their lunch. And they can still buy a newspaper.

“A lot of people really appreciate it.

“It is a a very casual atmosphere and some people come and sit for hours, meeting new people or having a catch up with old friends.”

Mr Betteridge added that whilst the decision to refurbish the cafe had been a difficult one, running the cafe has been very rewarding.

He said: “I am embracing every second of it.”