Social enterprise Warm Age Wood Company moves into Barnard Castle town centre shop

A UNIQUE social enterprise in Teesdale has taken the bold step up from market stall to high street shop.
The Warm Age Wood Company, which uses part of its profits to help heat homes, has been selling hardwood and bark briquettes at Barnard Castle’s monthly market since 2014.
Last week it moved into a small shop on Market Place.
Dale MP Helen Goodman officially opened the shop.
The social enterprise, run by Dave Watson and Gerardine O’Connor, last year provided two tonnes of wood.
Along with giving one bag of wood to those in need for every ten bags sold, Warm Age Wood sells knitted items, of which ten per cent of the profits buys additional wood.
Mr Watson said: “This is our 10-2-1 promise. Secondly, we give wool to experienced knitters who make lovely and unique items on a voluntary basis.
"When we sell their knitwear and the profits made go towards the purchase of wood briquettes to support our 10-2-1 promise."
The official opening coincided with Social Enterprise UK’s “Social Saturday”.
Mr Watson said: “We want to try to do something so people get a better understanding of what social enterprises do.
“We have quite a few more knitters now, one in Barnsley and one it Bradford who do it by post.”
Mr Watson said moving to the shop had advantages. The other knitters are all based in Teesdale, providing a social opportunity for those who are involved.
The new shop is open from Wednesday to Saturday between 10am and 5pm.
Mr Watson said: “The market stall never did credit to how skilful the knitters are. People are just amazed. There are remarkably happy faces when people walk by. I don’t know what it is, maybe it is the colour and the natural wool.”