The owner of a popular Chinese says it will be the end of an era when it closes next month.

Lai Meng, known as Ivy, will close Ria Restaurant in Newlands Shopping Centre on March 21.

Ivy, 60, has bonded with many weekly customers and says she is sad there is no chance the Chinese can stay open.

She said: "I will miss my customers the most - I have seen a lot of them grow up and some have grown old together with me.

"This place is my second home and it’s where I socialise with people during the long shifts."

Steep rent and no fresh customers were Ivy’s biggest contenders and she said the business had got a point where it needed to close.

Corinne Thompson, chairman of Witham Chamber of Commerce, said the shop shutting will leave a "real gap" in the town.

Owners of the centre New River Retail could not comment on what options could take up the site.