THE owner of a coffee shop, which has just opened its doors in Pershore, was inspired to start the new venture after facing a life threatening infection.

James Keane officially opened Coffee and More in Bakers Arcade in Pershore on Saturday, March 28, with the help of the town mayor, councillor Tony Rowley.

While Mr Keane has always worked in the catering business he said he was pushed to set up his own coffee shop last year when he battled for his life after a sudden infection attacked his heart.

"I have worked in catering for 35 years," said Mr Keane, of Wadborough. "I have run hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, pubs but have taken a back seat, but last Ma I was seriously ill and was in intensive care for just under a month.

"I started with a headache and a few days later called the doctor. They they said I had suffered a heart attack. I was having another by the time I got to hospital, I was on full life support.

"I had a viral infection which attacked my heart and I got a lung infection. They told my partner at one time the next day I wasn't going to make it. But I am a lot better now."

After taking some time off to recover Mr Keane decided to go ahead and open his own coffee shop, which he hopes will be somewhere a bit different where people can come and relax and get waited on.

"It's poignant in a way that now, less than a year on from being at death's door I am starting again," he said.

"The shop is called Coffee and More and the look of it is sort of shabby chic. But I am offering something a bit different, as there is table service here.

"I am wanting to give a bit of a service, nice china, freshly prepared food and home made cakes."

And Mr Keane, known to his friends as Seamus, has gone that extra mile to keep it local by sourcing his coffee from the Coffee Master in Worcester.

He added: "Hopefully we will be able to pamper people and our customers will leave feeling nice and refreshed."

Find Coffee and More in Bakers Arcade, off Pershore High Street.