HOSTS of golden daffodils are lasting longer than usual this year, bringing a burst of yellow for visitors to Farndale this Easter.

The bright colours also signal hope for a change of fortune for one family this holiday. Although flowers are getting past their best elsewhere in the region, the famous bulbs are still "blooming lovely," said Joanne Loggie, who runs the Daffy Caffy.

"Even by Easter weekend and into next week there will still be lots of daffodils on show."

Joanne said: "We took over in 2000 and the first season was the wettest April on record, it rained every single day. The next year, because of foot and mouth, the footpath was closed, and that wiped our trade out for the year.

"Last year was fantastic, but we had so many debts we were breaking even. This year will be the one."

The daffodils are not Joanne's only spring arrival. Ruben, 11 weeks, has joined three-year-old son Jake to keep her busy in between customers.

Updated: 10:34 Saturday, April 19, 2003