A CAFE built to serve two tourist attractions in the New Forest has been driven to closure by yobs.

The waterfront facility catered for visitors to Totton and Eling Heritage Centre and Eling Tide Mill but was also used by people living in the area.

Totton and Eling Town Council claims that "inappropriate behaviour" by some of the locals is responsible for the cafe's closure.

A council source said: "Several people were staying there for long periods of time, buying very little and making lurid comments to the staff. They were also shouting to their friends, which was very off-putting for what I would call the genuine paying customers."

However, the authority is planning to reopen the building after giving it a more upmarket image that it hopes will deter the troublemakers. Staff will also be given special training on how to deal with difficult situations.

Town clerk Derek Biggs declined to discuss the issue in detail but said: "Inappropriate behaviour by some of the locals had begun to affect the staff.

"The whole character of the café had changed. We decided to close the facility for a short time and review the situation, which we felt was preferable to involving the police."

Now the council is planning to change the menu, raise the prices and generally make the facility less attractive to the comparatively small number of people who were causing problems.

"We aim to reopen in the next few weeks and serve high quality food that will be popular with tourists," added Mr Biggs.

The cafe's closure has angered the Liberal Democrats, who saw the Tories gain control of the council at the local elections on May 3.

Former chairman David Harrison said: "This is the worst possible start for the new council.'' Len Harris, former chairman of the amenities committee, said: "I will be calling for the cafe to be reopened as soon as possible."