A NEW restaurant has scaled back its premises plans.

Lighthouse Bar and Restaurant was due to open in Church Walk, Colchester, last month.

But owner Mathew Jolly has had a rethink and is now looking at opening elseswhere in Colchester.

Mr Jolly, of Colchester’s St Michael’s Estate, said: “Unfortunately we’re thinking again about the Church Walk venue as it’s just too much for us.

“I’m in the very early stages of speaking to the owners of a shop on Sir Isaacs Walk where cosmetic shop Lush used to be before it moved.

“But we’ll have to wait and see."

The restaurant will create around 20 jobs.

Mr Jolly is in talks with possible new investors after his previous arrangement failed.

He handed over £525 in solicitor fees to his then financial backer after he met him through website Gumtree, where he was appealing for investors.

But Mr Jolly was left in limbo when the man, who he had met several times, allegedly would not answer his phone calls.

He reported the matter to police and the man was charged with one count of fraud by false representation.

It is set to go before a crown court judge in September.

Hertfordshire Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the man had been charged with fraud.

It is alleged to have happened between February 18 and April 26 this year.