A Shaw cafe that is operated by employees who have disabilities is set to close due to the impact of Covid.

Dunwood Park Cafe has been operated by Pure Innovations, a Stockport-based charity that supports people with disabilities, since 2019.

The cafe will remain open until July, which gives the council time to select a new operator.

Shaw Cllr Howard Sykes said: "This is a great loss to the local community, and we will be doing all we can to find another user, like we did when the last operator pulled out.

"Pure Innovations, who operate the café, have been up front about this and will continue to operate it until July 2022.

"Hopefully this gives the council time to make alternative provision."

The impact Covid has had on the cafe's business and it's employees has forced its closure.

Pure Innovations said that over the past three years, the cafe had received a lot of support from the local community, even during the pandemic when it re-opened as a take-out service for people using the park.

The reason Pure Innovations are no longer being able to run the cafe is due to the fact that the disabled employees have not been attracted to working in the cafe during the pandemic.

This, along with increased operating costs, mean the cafe is set to make a major financial loss across 2022-23.

With Pure Innovations being a charity, they are "unable to absorb the budgeted loss" caused by the affects of the pandemic.

The cafe was re-opened by the charity in March 2019 as a project providing a place for their clients , all of whom have disabilities, to contribute and develop new life skills, meet new people and feel like they are part of the local community.

The charity said in a post on Facebook: "We would like to thank our customers, the friends of Dunwood Park and all the local councillors for their support, and wish all the very best in finding an alternative operator for the cafe.”

The cafe has offered a safe space for disabled people to work, while providing visitors with a welcoming environment and food.

Pure Innovations runs five other cafes around Greater Manchester, including one in Alexandra Park in Oldham, called The Boathouse Cafe.

The other four are all based in the Stockport area.

Pure Innovations have said their other cafes are not currently in any danger of closing down.