Elizabeth’s cake shop, which has a store in Southbourne Grove and Tuckton Road, closed earlier this week.

A sign on the door of the Southbourne Grove shop said the bakery had closed and to contact insolvency advisors Mark Liddle Partnership with any enquiries.

Managing partner Mark Liddle confirmed they were handling the liquidation process.

He said it had closed because the business was “struggling to make any money”.

Eleven members of staff have been made redundant as a result.

It is unclear whether anyone will take over the business, which was co-owned by Jacqueline and Paul Lyle, and keep it running as a bakery.

After hearing the news of the closure customers have taken to social media to share their memories of the bakery.

Lizzi Wilson posted her sadness about the closure on Facebook. She said: “No! This was a massive part of my childhood visiting my grandma.”

Meanwhile Paula-Jane Stone said she was “gutted, as they did the best custard slices ever” but most commenters said what a shame it was to see a business which had been there such a long time close its doors.

And former employee Jackie Cox wrote how much she loved working at the bakery explaining that it has been “the local bakery for over half a century”.

Southbourne-on-Sea Business Association chairman Fiona McArthur said: “It is always sad to hear about a shop closing in the high street, especially one that has been with us for so long.

“We often hear about the pressures faced by small independent traders as a result of difficult trading conditions, competition from larger chains and reduced parking availability.

“For that reason it is so important for the local community to continue to support their independent traders on the high street.

“We wish the Elizabeth’s team all the best.”