A Cleator Moor business has expanded into retail premises for the first time.

Y-tea of the Lake District, set up by Tom Cheung a year-and-a-half ago, began life as an online business.

Tom, 23, started it from his Egremont bedroom but soon moved into office space in Cleator Moor and began selling tea on Keswick Market.

He now supplies premium tea to the general public but also to hotels, cafes and retailers and said: “I’m passionate about tea and I want to put Cumbria on the national stage.”

The opportunity arose for Y-tea to open a shop at Stirling Place, on Cleator Moor’s High Street.

Tom said: “I have worked in Cleator Moor for a year-and-a-half now and I love the place and the people.

“There’s a lot of work going into developing Cleator Moor as a great place to do business and I am pleased that we decided to base our company here.”

The shop also allows the firm to sell teaware and tea-related gifts and Y-tea has also collaborated with other Cumbrian producers to create hampers, plus seen its products stocked by other retailers.

Tom added: “We’re also on a plastic-free journey and the material we use for our tea pyramids is made from corn starch so it’s completely biodegradable.”

Y-tea is also celebrating as its workshop was recently inspected by Copeland council and received a five-star food hygiene rating.

Tom added: “Looking to the future, Y-tea of the Lake District is looking to open other shops in Cumbria, employ more staff and maybe even get their products onto supermarket shelves so that everyone can enjoy an amazing cuppa from Cumbria!

“What I’ve achieved in a year-and-a-half – going from a market stall to offices and now a shop – shows this business has the basis to expand.

“We’re going to concentrate on building our business in Cumbria in the short term and then look to grow the business.

“I am very proud of what Y-tea has achieved to date.”