A CAFE owner is to appeal to the Government after a £5,000 tax demand led him to close his business.

Shaun Omara felt he had no alternative but to close in the face of the crippling bill for business rates.

He paid off his three staff, ditched £1,000 of food materials and considered putting three new freezers up for auction.

However, a notice on the door of the Saltburn bistro that gave the reason for closure caused such a reaction in the community that he is to reopen Omara's on Tuesday after re-stocking.

He will also appeal against the tax demand to the Government Valuation Office.

Cafe regular Pat Fewster said: "This is lovely news. "They have been greatly missed by the locals. It was so sad when he closed, because it is a good meeting place for locals.

"A lot of people go in during the morning just for a coffee.''

The business rates for Saltburn's Queen Hotel are £4,000, yet Omara's, which is run from the hotel's former dining room, is £1,000 higher.

Mr Omara, 44, said: "The bill is quite clearly very wrong. I am going to appeal.

"I got quite upset when I got the bill. It took us a long time to build up the rapport we have with the public.

"There are so many people who love Omara's, we must be doing something right."