The future of a tea hut run by the same family for 84 years remains uncertain after the lease was temporarily extended.

Current manager of the hut in Fairmead Road, High Beach, Bradley Melton, is facing an anxious wait over Christmas after The City of London Epping Forest and Commons Committee said it had decided to postpone a final decision during a meeting on Friday.

The hut’s lease was due to expire next month and forest bosses are currently considering a number of applications to take over the facility.

The Save The Tea Hut campaign is calling for Mr Melton to be retained as manager, which is popular with bikers and visitors to the forest, and a petition has attracted 8,000 signatures.  

Mr Melton met officials on Friday alongside Campaigner Paul Morris, when he was told the current contract would be extended until March while tender negotiations continue.

The successful tender is due to be announced on January 12.

Mr Morris said: “The only down side is the decision will now be dragged out over Christmas."

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation said: “This licence extension will maintain the continuity of service to regular customers, enabling the City to conclude the ongoing tender negotiations at its next meeting.”

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian -  out Thursday