A KENT town centre management team has been forced to lay off two members of staff as it struggle to find financial support.

Board members of Dover Town Centre Management (TCM) made the decision to issue redundancy notices to David Somers and his part-time personal assistant Sarah Talbot last week, and are due to meet again on Friday to discuss future plans.

It follows cuts in grants to TCM by Dover District and Dover Town councils, and core funders have also failed to increase their level of financial support.

TCM chairman and treasurer Alan Elcocks said he was sad that this action had been taken.

"I personally hope that we can find a speedy resolution to the current trading difficulties, which will enable us to withdraw the notice given to our employees.

"The town must decide if it wants a town centre management organisation or not, and if it does, it must support us. It's support us, use us or lose us."

Mr Somers said he was disappointed: "The company can not continue to trade successfully on its current business model and needs to change."

He put forward two options that could take the company forward, and these will be studied by the board. One option is that TCM would operate with volunteers, rather than paid employees.