A DEVIZES cafe wants to make sure the campaign to restore the town's historic assize court is everyone's cup of tea.

Owners of Tea Inc in The Ginnel are backing the fundraising appeal set up by the Devizes Assize Court Trust which bought the rundown building in November.

It bought the court house for £475,000 from businessman Suleiman Dockrat but now needs to raise £10 million to transform the building into a new home for Wiltshire Museum and a community space.

Tea Inc owners Alan and Ramona Richards are the latest business people in Devizes to do their bit to help.

Mr Richards said: "We drive past the assize courts every day and it was very sad to see it gradually decaying away.

"We came up with the idea of a Hope And Glory blend of tea and we will give £1 to the appeal for every pot sold.

"It is proving to be very popular so far. It is a blend of three different coloured teas in red, blue and gold which are the colours of the Devizes coat of arms."

The bid to transform the assize court into a something the town can be proud of also has the backing of the new High Sheriff of Wiltshire David Scott.

Mr Scott, who was sworn in to the historic post earlier this month, is also keen to see the building restored.

He said: "It has been a huge shame to see this important building being allowed to decay. I very much hope the appeal can be successful."

Tea Inc is about to launch its second shop in coming weeks in Marlborough's Kingsbury Street.

Tea Inc follows in the footsteps of estate agents Hunter French who earlier this year pledged to give £100 for every house it sells this year.

The trust is keen to hear from other traders, groups and individuals to help with the fundraising to restore the building and fit it out as the new home of the Wiltshire Museum, with purpose-built galleries, a café, a lecture theatre and other community spaces.

The longer-term ambition is to link the Assize Court to the Wharf, the re-development