An enterprising cafe owner is serving coffee to shoppers with an added dash of comfort - a hot water bottle.

And the warm welcome is already winning fans at Bill's Produce Store on Cliffe High Street in Lewes.

Bill Collison said the idea has caught on with people visiting the store, which sells fresh produce from around the globe as well as having an indoor and outdoor cafe.

A few weeks after their introduction, the bottles are now warming the knees, hands and nether regions of everyone enjoying their food in the fresh air.

Bill said: "The customers think it is a great idea, although those who are not regulars think it is a bit weird at first.

"But they soon see other people with them and ask for one themselves."

The idea was the brainchild of the cafe's head chef, who found he needing something for his freezing fingers as he grabbed a bite to eat at the cafe on his day off.

Bill said: "We have got heating in the shop but it was not quite enough and people were getting a bit chilly.

"Then the head chef was having breakfast outside one morning and he thought it would be a cracking idea."

Demand for the bottles soon outstripped supply.

"From having ten hot-water bottles at first we quickly went up to 20.

"Now we have enough for all 32 tables."

Bill, who has been running the store for 18 months, plans to invest in hot-water bottle covers advertising the cafe as a personal touch.

He said: "We have not had time this year but I think we will definitely make them a bit more special next winter."