A NEW Costa drive-thru has opened at a shopping retail park in Bury.

The coffee shop is one of several to have opened at the Park 66 development in Pilsworth, including The Food Warehouse, Home Bargains and KFC.

Customers filed into the venue at the weekend for its official launch event, which was opened by the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Trevor Holt, and the Mayoress, his wife Evelyn, who cut the ribbon at 12noon.

The Mayor even donned an apron while he received a short training session from Costa baristas.

Staff began serving members of the public on July 25, and Costa managers say that trade is going well so far.

Store manager Danny Dunphy, who lives in Kearsley, said: "We are getting busier every day, as more people find out about us.

"We are enjoying meeting lots of members of the community. Since opening we have had more than 4,000 customers come through the drive thru and café with all the feedback being very positive.

"We had a great weekend to celebrate the opening."

During the opening, staff gave away free goodies to customers. They have also handed out more than 500 free coffees and vouchers to local shoppers and businesses since opening.

In September, the store plans to hold a charity car wash, with the proceeds shared equally between the Costa Foundation and Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.

The new site has been labelled as one of Costa's 'store of the future', which have a new contemporary design, with more colours and patterns incorporated into the decor.

Mr Dunphy said: "The shop is a lot more homely; it is open plan. It has been designed with the customer in mind, so they can see the bar and see the team at work."

Dad-of-two Mr Dunphy has worked at Costa for about eight years, previously at Woodfields Retail Park, then Middlebrook, and most recently at the Bolton drive-thru in Lower Bridgeman Street.

The drive-thru is located at the roundabout linking Pilsworth Road and Roach Bank Road.