A MUCH-loved and popular tea rooms in Bradford on Avon is to close with the loss of seven full and part-time jobs.

Poppies Tea Rooms in Westbury Gardens is to close its doors for the last time today (Friday).

Owner Janet Caffrey, 60, has decided to shut down the business and make her staff redundant.

A closing down sale for equipment and furniture will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday.

She took the “disheartening” decision after Bradford on Avon Town Council gave notice that her lease would not be renewed at the end of November.

Mrs Caffrey, of Churchill Way, Corsham, said: “It is very sad and disheartening because we have done really well here. We have been really successful.

“We have put in a lot of effort and the business was just beginning to make a profit but now it’s all going to go.”

Mrs Caffrey launched Poppies Tea Rooms two and a half years ago next to the town council’s Tourist Information Centre in Westbury Gardens.

She is now having to make her deputy, Cheryl Cox, 44, and assistant Diane Henley, 51, redundant, along with three part-time staff.

It is understood the town council, which leases the building from local businessman Tom Lindsey, wants to extend its tourist information centre facilities and gain additional office space for staff.

This week council leader, Cllr Dominic Newton, confirmed the Poppies Tea Rooms lease runs out on November 25 and was not being renewed.

The council was negotiating with Great Western Railway to move the TIC into Bradford on Avon station but those talks came to an end.

It has now decided to expand its tourist information facilities into the tea rooms and create office space above for some of the new staff it has recently taken on.

Cllr Newton said: “We have been looking at other options for the last year but these have been exhausted.

“It was always an option not to renew the tea rooms’ lease, and that is what we have decided to do.

“We have made the decision to expand into the rest of the current premises.

“It is unfortunate that Poppies Tea Rooms will be departing and we understand that some people will be disappointed.

“But we have to help the whole town and tourism supports many jobs.”