DISAPPOINTED brides are having to find an alternative venue for their big day after Philips Park Hall closed down suddenly.

The popular function suite, in Philips Park, Whitefield, has ceased trading under directors Gary Raime and Karen Michael after they were evicted by Bury Council over non-payment of rent.

The couple have been in dispute with the council over the state of the surrounding parkland and grounds, and had been witholding rent. However, the legal wrangle came to a head when the local authority, which owns the building, applied to the courts to seize the lease and take possession of the building.

Mr Raime and Ms Michael, who have had the business up for sale for £125,000 since November, vacated the property and surrendered the keys last Friday.

After losing the lease and auctioning off the contents of the venue, they will be left with £3,000 - for a business they say was valued at £250,000. The pair have written to 37 customers who had booked the hall for weddings, barmitzvahs and Christmas parties and promised to refund all deposits.

They are in discussions with Fairways Lodge, in George Street, Prestwich, to see if they can offer the customers an alternative venue. Ms Raime said: "We misread the council's determination to get us out of that building and for that I am sorry to all the couples who had faith in us to trust us with their special day. I can assure you that irrespective of the amount of money raised at the auction, Gary and I will ensure that everyone who gave us money towards their wedding will be refunded in full as quickly as possible."

A spokesman for Bury Council said: "The council had to take legal action to obtain the premises back in October due to the company's failure to pay rent. At court the company agreed to certain terms because it did not want to give up the premises, however they did not meet the terms despite running their operation over the Christmas period and, as a result, had to hand back the premises to the council."