A COMMUNITY café is to close its doors after failing to attract enough customers.

The Bank, in Main Street, Neilston, opened as a community hub in 2012, at a time when the village had no 'café culture’ to speak of.

Seven years later, Neilston now boasts three other cafés – but increased competition means The Bank has struggled to keep its tills ringing.

The doors of the café will close on Sunday, March 31, although The Bank will remain open to the various groups that use the venue on a regular basis.

Members of the Neilston Development Trust (NDT), which runs The Bank Café, have also said its kitchen is no longer “fit for purpose,” while the public space is in need of an “urgent facelift.”

Pauline Gallacher, NDT chairperson, told the Barrhead News: “I’d like to say how sorry we are about the café closure.

“The NDT board has thought long and hard about taking this step, with the impact it would have on staff weighing heavily on us.

"Eventually, however, decisions about the viability and fit of all our operations have to be taken, not just the café but in everything we do.

“The Bank opened after refurbishment in 2012. Seven years on, the building needs a refresh but, more importantly, there is a responsibility to ask if what is on offer at The Bank fits the bill for Neilston in 2019 and beyond."

Ms Gallagher said that, over the coming weeks, there will be opportunities for everyone in Neilston to join in a conversation about The Bank's future.

She added: "NDT projects will still be delivering their exciting activities and our existing users and groups will continue to receive a warm welcome, as will anyone who is interested in what we might do together.”