The owners of café have been left “heartbroken” after being forced to close due to regulations about wage increases and overheads.

TickTocks at Rainham Shopping Centre in Medway has shut for the final time today after the owners say running the business became unviable.

Posting the news on social media, owners Teresa and Dave wrote: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart to tell you that TickTocks will be seizing trading from 4pm today.

“This decision didn’t come lightly and we are absolutely heartbroken to have to come to this decision but with the over heads and the new regulations put in place regarding wage increase has just crippled us.

“Thank you so much to all of our regular customers that kept us going for as long as we could.”

The café was one of many to share its concerns about losing customers due to a hike in parking fees.

Speaking to KentOnline in May last year, Teresa said their trade had dropped by more than third as a result of the price change.

At the time she said: “The footfall just dropped immediately. People are not going to pay when they can go to Hempstead Valley and park for free.

“The parking was always expensive and now it has gone up, we cannot compete with them.

“When B&M opened it brought a bit of life back. For those two weeks afterwards, it was lovely, it was packed in here, but it has now gone.

“We have had customers come in talking about the extortionate way it went up. There are ways to make money that do not affect the shopping centre.

“They need to do something rather than leave it as it is.”

Sadly, 12 months on and the café has been forced to shut up shop.

One distraught customer wrote: “No way. We loved coming to you on Mother’s Day for breakfast and my kids loved it there such sad news.

“Another great family run business closing to soon make way for another vape shop or charity shop in the precinct. Hope you set up somewhere else as we will defo be back.”

A second said: “How sad is this. So sorry to hear this. Had some lovely times here with friends. Good luck to you all.”

A third commented: “So, so, sorry to read this! Such a lovely, friendly place. It’s wicked what’s happening to Rainham.”