SPECULATION over the future of a cherished Isle of Wight confectionary shop has been put to bed, with an upcoming closure confirmed as temporary.

Godshill-based Chocolate Island has been a staple for sweet-toothed locals and visitors for more than a decade, offering a wide range of handmade treats.

Visitors to the company's Facebook page had expressed concern that the store and cafe was set to shut its doors permanently, after Chocolate Island posted that its cafe was now closed for the remainder of the winter.

People who were given vouchers for Christmas were disappointed they wouldn't be able to use them for a while.

A spokesperson for Chocolate Island told the County Press: "The cafe is closing for the winter. The shop and cafe will be closing for a few weeks, with the shop re-opening on weekends from Saturday, January 25.

"We aren't closing permanently. I believe a social media post may have been taken out of context."