A Saltburn chef, Shaun Omara, who has closed his bistro, Omara's, in Station Street has been urged to contact both Redcar and Cleveland Council and the valuation office to see if they can help over his shock business rates tax bill.

Coun Glyn Nightingale, the council's corporate resources cabinet member, said it was not a case of blaming the council - "We have nothing to do with setting the business rate."

He was referring to a notice on the bistro door saying the closure was "due to the unfair rise in council rates".

Coun Nightingale said business rates were set by the Government valuation office.

"Clearly we are concerned that a popular business could be lost to Saltburn and we would urge Mr Omara to contact us to discuss the situation and see if we can help him."

A valuation office spokesman in London also said he could appeal against the rateable value set.

But he stressed: "We would only reduce it if we discovered an error."