Supporters of a campaign to keep a much-loved tea hut under the management of its current boss say they have "mixed feelings" about its future.

An online petition drawn up in support of keeping the tea hut, in High Beach, Epping Forest, under the management of Bradley Meelton has received more than 8,000 signatures.

It was oresented to the City of London Corportaion three weeks ago and a reply from the Superintendent of Epping Forest posted on Facebook only went as far as saying "the feelings of the community that use the tea hut will be considered in the process’ of deciding the tea hut’s future".

Mr Melton, 33, is the fourth generation of his family to run the hut, which has become popular with bikers, walkers and horse riders over the past 84 years.

The man behind the petition and a regular user of the hut, Paul Morris, said: “Since the petition was handed in we have all sat back and waited to see the outcome of the committee's decision.

“I have been contacting the Superintendent and the City of London to express my concerns and I am glad to say that I have had a response.

“I think everyone now has mixed feelings, there is not much more we can ask for at the moment.

“We will have to wait and see, it’s a stalemate situation, I know they meet this Friday but we have no exact date to expect a decision, I just hope we won’t have to wait too long.”