ATTILIO Cristina, who opened Marlborough's first Italian restaurant 25 years ago, will cook his last meal for customers on Saturday.

Mr Cristina, 54, has decided to sell his business because he suffered a brain tumour last year and underwent major surgery.

"I have made a good recovery but I came back to work a bit too soon and I need a break," he said.

He and his wife Angela plan to have a home built in Aldbourne and when Mr Cristina is back to full health he would like to return part time to the one job he has always known, cooking.

Attilio's Trattoria and Wine Bar on the corner of New Road and The Parade is being taken over by the Il Capricorno Italian restaurant in Old Town, Swindon. It will close until April 14 for some redecoration but will look much the same when it re-opens, said Mr Cristina.

Italian-born Mr Cristina, who trained as a chef in Switzerland before his first job in Paris, said he regretted his health had left him no alternative but to sell up.

"I have very mixed feelings about going," he said. "We were the first Italian restaurant in Marlborough but now if you count ASK and Caffe Uno there are about six places selling Italian food."