A COFFEE giant's attempt to break into the traditional territory of a Cotswold town's high street has ended in failure.

Costa, part of the Whitbread Group, which has more than 700 branches in the UK and 300 in 20 other countries, opened its doors to the public at its Burford café in January - and closed them again barely four months later.

Costa spokesman Julie Foster said: "I can confirm that the franchise Costa coffee store in Burford has been placed in the hands of the administrators and has ceased trading."

She added that 20 per cent of Costa Coffee houses were franchised operations, with the rest equity-owned.

The Burford Costa was opened by franchisee Stephen Smith, an entrepreneur from Hungerford, who has also worked as a wildlife photographer, travelling extensively for the Natural History Museum Photographic Library.

Richard Taee, who owns a rival Burford café - the traditional Huffkins bakery - said: "There was some resistance to a Costa arriving on the High Street among local people. Also, we were just expanding our café when he opened.

"And then there is the fact that his shop was just a little further up the street - why walk further uphill if you don't have to?"

Before taking over Huffkins, Mr Taee and his wife Topsy sold their own chain of London coffee shops to Starbucks.

He said: "I am genuinely sorry for Mr Smith. He must have lost a lot of money on the venture."

Huffkins has just won the My Weekly award for England's Best Afternoon Tea. The magazine invited readers to vote for their favourite place to take English afternoon tea.

The Costa coffee shop was scheduled to stage a major photographic exhibition the week it suddenly closed.

Photographer Sarah Howard, who had been due to exhibit her work, said before the closure: "The new Costa Coffee shop, which recently opened on Burford High Street, offers something a little different from the norm. A coffee shop with a twist, it also houses a photographic gallery."

Mr Smith was not available for comment.