An award-winning restaurant in North Berwick could close for good if it cannot find new chefs to keep the business running.

Osteria, located on the town's High Street, is owned by Angelo Cocchia and has been operating in the town since 2006.

The restaurant lost a chef earlier in the year and his daughter Daniela stepped in to help in the kitchen.

However, she is expecting her second child and has left on maternity leave meaning the restaurant was forced to close temporarily at the beginning of April.

Mr Cocchia, 59, is continuing to pay his remaining staff until the end of May, but stressed if he could not find the required chefs he could have to close for good in June.

Speaking to the Courier, Mr Cocchia stressed the pressures facing the hospitality industry, such as Brexit, have hampered his attempts to bring someone in.

He said: "Last year we lost a couple of chefs and it's been very very difficult recruiting people.

"We had my daughter step in to do service during the evening sessions, because since July last year we closed lunch service.

"My daughter is now expecting her second child, so she came off at the beginning of April.

"I cannot operate with one chef, so it's been so hard – a few customers of ours got involved to get some recruitment but it's been very difficult for them as well.

"My aim is to re-open again in June; it's difficult but we will try to get back into business if we can recruit a couple of chefs.

"Brexit is one of the issues as well because we used to employ people from Italy but now we cannot employ them – it's really become a nightmare.

"We have been in business for 17 years, and people really didn't want me to close the doors."

Mr Cocchia said that people from overseas who love visiting the restaurant have been trying to send him money thinking it is a financial issue, but he stressed to them that it's purely a "manpower problem".

He stressed that all restaurants are facing similar pressures and this lack of manpower meant the bigger restaurants and chains were more able to attract the quality of staff he has always had at Osteria.

He added: "It's like the big fish eats the smaller fish.

"I told all the rest of my staff that if I can't find someone by the middle of May, unfortunately it's going to be the end of Osteria."

However, he thanked all the community for getting behind him, his family and the business.

He said: "The people are so supportive, every day I get phone calls of people worried saying "what's happened" and "why are you closing?"

"My regular customers have become part of me, part of my family like a 'home from home' and it's sad you may not be there for them no more."

Kenny Miller, chair of North Berwick Community Council, shared his disappointment that a popular restaurant in North Berwick faced closure.

He said: "It is very unfortunate that such a popular restaurant has had to close it doors.

"It is to be hoped that they will resolve the current problem and be able to reopen. I wish them well going forward."

Mr Cocchia hoped that if things go well he would re-open in June, even if on a reduced menu for a temporary period.

He encouraged anyone who thought they would be the right fit for working with them to come forward and contact him on 07708760607 or email info@osteria-no1.co.uk