A well-loved community café that offers work experience to people with learning disabilities is closing down.

It has been confirmed today that the Cherry Tree Café in Woodbine Place, Wanstead will be closing on March 31 due to financial difficulties.

The café is run by London-wide charity HAIL, which helps people with learning disabilities get into work, as well as Redbridge Council.

Café manager Otis Scase said: “It is very very sad, but HAIL just cannot afford to keep the service running any more.

“It has provided so many amazing opportunities to so many people, so it’s such a great shame we are having to close.”

He said he has tried to reduce opening hours over the last year to try to make the business financially viable.

Councillor for Snaresbrook Ward Colin Cronin said: “It's incredibly disappointing that Wanstead is losing such a fantastic facility.

“Cherry Tree has been a wonderful place to grab a coffee and cake with local residents while at the same time helping people with learning disabilities, mental health issues or autism obtain real work experience in a safe, community supported environment.”

The café has also regularly been used for children’s birthday parties.

Wanstead mother Nicola Jarratt said: “Everyone in Wanstead will be very sad about it closing.

“I had my son’s birthday party there last year and will do again this year before it closes, so I feel very disappointed for them that they can’t carry on.”

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: “This is a great facility and the Council is looking at what further opportunities there are going forward which will enable us to use the space.”