A NEW fast food take away which is being officially opened today in the former Charlotte's patisserie in Marlborough High Street, is the first of a chain of more than 80 which will be opened across the UK.

The Charlotte's premises have been given a £50,000 revamp over the past few weeks which led some customers to fear that Marlborough would be losing its only dedicated bread and cakes shop which is part of the Bristol-based Mountstevens chain.

However the Bristol baker, which has formed a new group called Ferrari's, said the sale of bread and cakes will continue at the Marlborough shop.

Ferrari's will be opening a second shop in the centre of Bristol in two weeks time.

Ferrari's is a new contemporary food format which, said a company spokesman, "recognises the demands of today's lifestyle, with fast, friendly service and quality food and drinks at competitive prices for busy people on the go".

He added: "The Marlborough shop is part of a new multi-million pound investment programme and the first of more than 80 planned new openings across the UK."

Ferrari's will specialise in what the food industry has come to call 'grab- and-go' food and drinks for local people who want a quick snack, or for tourists.

It will offer a variety of coffees, a choice of teas and a wide range of sandwiches, filled baps, and batons.

The Charlotte's range of hot snacks together with bread and cakes is being maintained.

Charlotte's was called Madeleine's when it was opened by Hayden's bakery which was based in Marlborough before moving to Devizes in 1977.

Company chairman Chris Hayden's wife, Madeleine, originally opened and ran the High Street cake shop for a time.

Mr Hayden, who had built up the business after taking over a bakery and shop in London Road in the early Seventies, sold it to Rank Hovis McDougall in 1999 at which time it had an annual turnover of £12 million.