A charity-run restaurant in Whitstable has lost hundreds of pounds after an electronic error halted all card payments.

Sunday marked the first anniversary of Revival Ice Cream Parlour and Veggie Bar – a social enterprise in Oxford Street run by mental health charity Mind in Bexley.

To celebrate the occasion, staff threw a Carribean-inspired carnival event with a special street food menu and reggae DJ set.

But in the late afternoon, the restaurant's card payment system malfunctioned – an error that wasn't picked up until service had stopped six hours later.

Front-of-house supervisor Milly Salsbury said: "The machine that we use disconnected from our till at about 4.10pm, so no card transactions went through until our last service at about 10pm.

"We think we've lost about £200 or more."

Now, staff are asking customers whose card payments failed to come forward and pay.

A spokesman posted on Facebook: "We would really appreciate it if customers who paid by card could double-check their bank transactions and if payment wasn't taken, we would be really grateful if you could either pop into the shop or phone up to make the payment due.

"We have such lovely customers we are crossing fingers they will see the post.

"Really sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you all in advance."

Today, Ms Salsbury said: "Nobody has come in to the shop to pay as of yet, but we're hoping for some people today.

"Our card machine as back up and running now."

To get in touch with Revival, phone 01227 265717 or visit its Facebook page.