Customers of a popular cafe have rallied round to help its owner after they discovered an increase in rent charges may put him out of business.

Almost 800 commuters have signed a petition to help Alaa Habbooby, who runs Epsom rail station’s Puccino’s and will have to pay higher rent from this Friday (September 17).

Mr Habbooby’s rent will go up from £17,000 to £23,100 per year after Puccino’s Worldwide took part in a tendering process by Southern Railway alongside other businesses - and he admitted the raise might put him out of business.

However Tony Brogden, a director from Puccino’s Worldwide has assured the company will do whatever is in their power to help Mr Habooby’s franchise remain open.

Mr Habbooby said: “I have had fantastic support from my customers who understand I may struggle to trade here. They are not just my customers they are my friends now. I love these people very much, honestly, they are very dear to me.”

But Epsom commuters, lead by TV producer Michelle Porter, who rely on Mr Habooby’s service every morning, have launched a petition in his support and have gathered nearly 800 signatures in less than a week.

She said: “He gives excellent service in the morning. They are always smiling and if he can’t continue trading, I’m sure somebody else will take over and the service just won’t be the same.”

They have started the petition to highlight their concerns over Mr Habbooby possibly losing the cafe to Southern, which runs the station.

Commuter Lorraine Allen-Jones, of Woodcote Hurst, Epsom, said: "It is an exceptional cafe because of the personal touch it has. They literally remember everybody's orders, which is extraordinary. They are really nice and helpful and friendly, which is quite unusual these days.

"It's a franchise but the point is they run it so amazingly, it's not like any other cafe I know where they remember exactly what you have and remember everything about you. It's an incredibly personal service."

Another customer, Kate Langrish, said: “Alaa makes the early morning journey into London every day that bit more bearable for hundreds of Epsom commuters – always greeting everyone with a smile, and with an amazing knack of remembering whether you take your latte skinny or cappuccino with an extra shot.

“Just the other day I was sat in Puccino’s waiting for my train when Alaa rushed out of the shop to help an elderly blind lady make her way across the platform, and escorted her to the lifts. During the day, many of his customers come to the station that bit early, so they can enjoy a chat with him before their train departs.”

A press officer from Southern said: "The tenant at Epsom is entirely happy with the new leasing arrangements. The unit was tendered earlier this year and Puccinos worldwide was the successful bidder."