A CHARITY-RUN cafeteria in Ellesmere Port has closed down unexpectedly.

Roots N' Boots in Marina Drive shut up shop on Friday - two years after it was opened.

Manager Suzanne Iuppa and her colleagues have posted a notice in the neighbouring newsagents' window, saying the closure was 'beyond their control'.

It reads: 'Over the past two years - six years since the beginning - Roots N' Boots has helped over 350 young people to find full-time work or college qualifications.

'Now, due to circumstances beyond our control, we will no longer be able to offer our unique training and assistance to young people in our country.

'We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for all their support over the years.'

It was signed by 'Suzanne, Pete and Graeme' on behalf of all the staff and youngsters, past and present.

Miss Iuppa said: 'As a previous director and a volunteer, I am helping the company sort out what needs to be done officially before notifying all our funders about the closure.

'The cafe stopped trading on July 21 but the company still exists, and the forward direction is still not decided.'

The cafe, offering healthy snacks and meals made with locally-grown produce, opened on April 1, 2004, thanks to a £7,000 donation from the Local Network Fund which supports children's projects.

The project offered employment opportunities for young people in managing and catering at the cafe, and working on the town allotments and Roots N' Boots' Fruit and Veg Shop in Stanney Lane.

The youngsters involved, who had not been achieving in mainstream education, joined Roots N' Boots in exchange for taking up an alternative education programme.

Aged 13-17, they had mainly been put forward by youth clubs, groups or organisations in the town.

Under the supervision of head chef Adrian Coles they learned about food hygiene and preparation, baking and customer service.

Many went on to full-time employment or college education.

Roots N' Boots started in 1999 as a youth allotment project in Ellesmere Port, before expanding with the vegetable shop, catering and then the cafe. It is not known if any staff have been left jobless by the cafe closure.