RESTAURANTS and cafe's have been overwhelmed with diners eager to take advantage of half price food.

The Government's Eat Out To Help Out scheme runs for the first three days of each week all throughout August and restaurants reduce 50 per cent from the bill, up to £10. More than 35 million half-price meals were served in the first two weeks.

John Thompson, landlord at the Hollybush Inn at Greenhaugh, said the scheme has been a great idea for owners and consumers.

However, he expressed doubts over the timing of the 50 per cent off initiative. "There's a feeling in the trade across the country whether August was the right time to do it," he said, "maybe October will have been better.

"The demand in the Tyne Valley is huge and everybody is working with reduced capacity.

"We are turning away 10 to 20 inquiries for food a night and because it's so busy the locals are not getting a chance to take advantage of the scheme."

At the Coffee Tree in Wylam, owner Suzanne McNeil said the cafe has experienced an increase in visitors.

"Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is normally the quiet end of the week," she said, "but we have probably nearly doubled what we have made on those days as we normally would.

"There's more people getting out and about and visiting for the first time including cyclists and walkers down by the river who come into the cafe."

Suzanne said there were fears the scheme would see fewer customers dining out on the weekend, but it hasn't been an issue.

"I thought on the Thursday's everybody would be staying at home," she said, "but we have found they are as busy as the other days."