PIZZA on the Green, one of Ealing’s most loved restaurants, has closed its doors after 21 years.

Italian food lovers left pining for pizza have been contacting the owner to see if they can replicate their favourite dishes.

Jalal Meradji, who turned off his ovens for the final time at the end of August, said: “I am getting emails from people asking for recipes.

“Maybe we will come back with a cookbook soon!”

Mr Meradji, 53, ran the restaurant in Haven Green since 1994 and will remain living in the area.

He said the community spirit of Ealing was something that would always stay with him, especially when customers rallied to help when he was out of the country during the riots of 2011.

He said: “I will never forget when I was on my holidays in the United States and my daughters turned to me and said that something had happened in Ealing.

“I had customers calling me to say don’t worry we will go and sort everything out.

“They came and boarded up the restaurant as the windows were smashed and they looked after everything for me whilst I was away.

“It was wonderful community spirit and I am forever grateful.”

He said PoG, as his restaurant is affectionately known, was happy to cater for special occasions and hosted birthday parties, proposals and even funeral wakes.

“If anybody asked for something we never said no.

“We were very close to our customers - they’re like a family."

He admitted it had been an emotional decision to shut up shop, but said it was the right time.

“I can spend more time with my daughters who are now grown up and with my family,” he said.

“Things happened in my life. My sister passed away and my mother is suffering from dementia.

“I look at life differently now and after 21 years, I thought I better go out on a high note.”