Middle Beach Cafe set to be torn down in New Year

The National Trust which owns the land, said the cafe is at risk of coastal erosion

A cafe, which has been open for over 70 years, is set to be torn down because the beach it stands on is eroding.

Middle Beach cafe at Studland, Dorset has been threatened with closure since 2016.

The National Trust, which owns the land, plans to set up new facilities in a safer position.

The cafe's, tenant, Paul Brown said: "Now the sea defences have come to the end of their life the only way forward is to retreat which means I go."

Mr Brown, 58, said he learned of the looming closure from the National Trust in September.

The cafe, which has 10 staff, will close its doors at 16:00 GMT on Monday 2 January.

The cafe on the South West Coast Path is set to close on 2 January

He said: "I've now got to make people redundant at the worst time of the year, with a recession kicking in.

"It's going to be heart wrenching to say goodbye... but the beach is going backwards.

"You've got to draw a line - but this is an end of a era for the village as much as it is for me," Mr Brown added the cafe would be demolished by the National Trust.

The National Trust said the coastal erosion at Middle Beach had reached the point where the current facilities would shortly become "unsafe".

It said it had submitted a planning application for a temporary catering unit to be positioned on the clifftop, and Mr Brown had not submitted a tender to run the new site.

Studland project manager, Julie Peters, said: "Our cafe tenant has provided an amazing offer for visitors over the years.

"We have had some excellent submissions by local independent businesses, so are pleased we will be able to continue the tradition of a locally-run cafe".