ICONIC tearoom business Bettys has decided to close its shops in light of the escalating cases of Covid-19 around the country.

Bettys Café Tea Rooms have been shut since the current nationwide lockdown started earlier this month.

Now their in-branch shops, order and collect and take away services will close as of 5pm today until further notice.

Simon Eyles, Bettys managing director of the Harrogate-based family business said:: “Given the severity of the Coronavirus pandemic that we are currently witnessing, Bettys has decided to close its Yorkshire branches completely.

"This means our café tea rooms and now our shops too will be shut until further notice.

“The same values and principles have guided today’s decision as guided us in March last year.

"For us all at Bettys our colleagues, customers and communities are our main priority.

"We will continue to do what we feel is right to keep people safe and to shoulder our social responsibility as a business.

"We are sad to have to do this and we realise that this will be a disappointment to many, however, customers can still visit us online to order Bettys products for delivery direct to their homes via www.bettys.co.uk”