The owners of a popular Carlisle restaurant have announced its sudden closure.

Sotto restaurant, on Warwick Road next to the city's crown court, revealed on Facebook they had closed with immediate effect.

The post has now been deleted along with the Italian restaurant’s Facebook page.

However, a short statement on their website read: “Sotto is permanently closed. We would like to thank all of our customers for their valued support.”

It is not yet known what the circumstances are surrounding the closure but there are some suggestions that the restaurant may soon be opened as a steakhouse.

Efforts have been made to contact the restaurant's management for a comment, but no response has been provided.

The restaurant sat in part of an old church building.