A husband and wife hope their business offering food, hair and cosmetics to the black community will prove to be a gold mine.

Brian and Carlie Goldsmith have seen trade increase 250 per cent since they opened Unique Trading in the Open Market, Brighton.

The couple, who have been married three years, run the only outlet in Brighton to offer food, hair and cosmetics for black and mixed race people on one site.

Their idea came to fruition when they grew tired of having to travel to London for Afro-Caribbean food and body care products.

Mrs Goldsmith, 24, who was born and grew up in Brighton, met Brian, 35, while on holiday in Tunisia, seven years ago.

They lived in London until they had their first child, Archie, now four, then moved to the coast.

The couple, who live in Whitehawk, Brighton, found they had to travel to London to buy Afro-Caribbean products.

When their second child, Otto, now two, arrived, the journey became more difficult.

Mrs Goldsmith said: "We always wanted to work for ourselves and thought what can we do.

"I really wanted to have a West Indian stall and employment had sometimes been difficult for Brian, who is a chef by trade."

The couple decided they wanted to run their own business and approached the Prince's Trust and an organisation called Working Links with a business plan.

They received a grant and business help and went into operation in April selling a wide range of West Indian and Afro-Caribbean foods, bakery products, vegetables such as yams, plantains and cassavas, together with cosmetic and hair care products for black and mixed race men and women.

They also sell hair relaxers and synthetic and real hair extensions.

Mrs Goldsmith said: "When I first came back to Brighton a few years ago with Brian, there weren't that many black people in the area but there are more and more coming to Brighton. There is also a large number of mixed race people.

"We're doing much better than I predicted and that's encouraging."

It is estimated up to five per cent of the population in Brighton and Hove are black or mixed race.

Most of the couple's trade has come from their contact with Mosaics, a Brighton-based group for black and mixed race people, but news is travelling and they hope to attract trade from Hastings and Mid Sussex.

The stall is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9am to 5.30pm.