Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing visited the High Beach tea hut in Epping Forest which is at the centre of a campaign regarding its lease.

Campaigners are fighting the City of London Corporation which has put the lease for the family-run business out to tender.

​Bradley Melton's family have run the tea hut for 84 years.

Paul Morris has set up a petition which has already received 7,000-plus signatures in just a few days.

Mrs Laing, who visited the tea hut this morning (Saturday), said: "I believe that the tendering process should take into account the strength of feeling of local people and the thousands of people who are Bradley's customers.

"The forest belongs to the people and I am quite sure that the City of London Corporation will want to take into consideration the views of the people."