THE Klondike, the American-style roadhouse restaurant at Froxfield, closed its doors last week.

The Gazette was unable to locate the owners this week but it is understood the restaurant had been for sale for some time.

The Klondike, named after the American gold rush of 1897 was styled after a USA roadhouse, but was built in the 1970s on the site of one of the country's most famous roadside cafes, the Golden Arrow.

In the days before the M4 opened when the A4 was the main route between London and Bristol, the 24-hour transport cafe was popular with families heading to and from the West Country, and also with truckers for decades.

Like many other transport cafes along the former Great West Road the Golden Arrow went into decline after the M4 was extended through Wiltshire and it eventually closed.

The Klondike was principally a steak house and was extremely popular when it opened.

A former customer told the Gazette: "We have heard it has been taken over and will become a curry house.

"Although a lot of people enjoy a curry it will be a shame to lose a restaurant like the Klondike with its wide choice of meals."

A former employee said she knew the restaurant had been put up for sale, but said she had no information on whether it had changed hands.