COSTA Coffee opened it's new branch in Welshpool today and a steady stream of caffeine lovers have been popping in to have their favourite espresso or cappuccino.

The store has opened at the former Pinewood Cafe building in the town centre creating six jobs.

Area Manager, Brice Perdereau, for Costa Coffee franchisees Larentia who run the Welshpool and Newtown branches, said: " It's been really good we've had a lot of interest and people coming in this morning right from the moment we opened at 7am."

Mr Perdereau who is based at Larentia's Wales headquarters in Pontypridd said that the Welshpool store will be run in tandem with their branch in Newtown.

The new staff have been trained as baristas at the Newtown branch with supervisors being taught on courses at the Leamington Spa.

Mr Perdereau who is originally from Dijon in Burgundy, France, said: "I've been coming up to Newtown and least once a week since we opened and I will be coming here at least once a week to see how things are going.

He added: "I joined the company when we opened a new shop in Pontypridd.

"I enjoy it.

"Next week we will be having a golden ticket competition, and one lucky person will find it and be entitled to a free coffee for a year.

"At the moment we've decided to open on weekdays from 7am to 6.30pm, but some of the people who've already been in this morning have suggested that we open at 6.30am so that people who go to work early can pop in."

Recently, Powys County Councillor, Amanda Jenner has been surveying coffee shops in the town, checking to see if they are willing to allow customers to use re-usable cups.

Mr Perdereau added: "We are always happy to serve customers with re-uasble cups and there is a 25p discount if a re-uasble cup is used.

"We don't mind where they are from, so long as they are clean."

The store will be open weekdays from 7am to 6.30pm, Saturday from 8am to 6.30pm and Sunday from 9am to 6pm.