Dunnies cafe in Otley may have served its last cup of tea, but the town’s MP is trying to ensure a replacement is built nearby.

The riverside Wharfe View Cafe, as it was officially called, closed for the last time on Sunday to make way for a new 48-flat care home.

However, Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) has written to the head of Gladman Care Homes to ask if a cafe can be incorporated into its development.

In his letter to David Gladman, Mr Mulholland, following up on an earlier proposal he put to the company, says: “With the size of the site, it would be perfectly possible for you to incorporate into the development a cafe, with a paved area outside, so that this important part of Otley’s riverside appeal to tourists and visitors could be retained and enjoyed by many generations, as the Wharfe View Cafe has been.”

The MP goes on to ask for a representative from Gladman to meet him and some residents in Otley to discuss the idea further.

He says: “We would love the opportunity to have a dialogue with you about how Otley can gain a new, attractive care home and an attractive cafe on the site of Dunnies, both serving the town, its residents and the local economy for many future generations.”

The care home will be built on the long-derelict site of the former All Saints Middle School, off Bridge Street. Both Dunnies and the adjacent Wharfe View News building will be demolished to accommodate the development.