The first ever full-time dementia-friendly café in the UK is closing in Bromley amid financial struggle.

Mission Café opened in The Mall in Bromley in 2015, but it’s having to shut after four years because of high costs.

The community asset, based just off the high street, was run by charity Mission Care, who look after hundreds of people across five care homes.

After announcing the closure, a statement read: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce our difficult decision to close Mission Café.

"Unfortunately, the cost of running the café has become too high and we have been unable to find a sustainable solution that allows us to remain open.

"Community is at the very heart of Mission Café and it has been a pleasure serving the people of Bromley these past four years. We have been delighted to welcome networking clubs, mum and baby groups, business societies, church groups and many more through our doors.

"Mission Café was the UK’s first full-time dementia-friendly café, and we are proud to have provided an environment where everyone in our community feels safe and supported. At Mission Care, we are committed to continuing our support for vulnerable people across South London.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported the Mission Café, including our committed team of staff who have worked very hard over the last few years. We will remain open until mid-December and until then we hope you will continue to visit us."

Mission Care has managed a charity shop on Chatterton Road in Bromley since 1993 and also opened a new shop in Crescent Way in Orpington last year.

When the bespoke dementia café opened four years ago, a spokesman told News Shopper: "There are lots of dementia homes which have a pop up cafe, but they don't open all the time.

"The problem with this is a dementia sufferer might forget then it’s open. Having one that's open all the time they don't need to remember the opening hours.

"It's the first full-time dementia cafe, it's extremely important to have."