The world’s largest surviving tidal mill has literally become a ghost town with not a single visitor since the Olympics started putting its cafe at risk of closure.

Ten extra volunteers are coming in during the Olympics as the House Mill on Tree Mills Island has put on special events, exhibitions and tours for the Games.

Trustee Beverley Chartes said: “It’s a complete ghost town here. We were told people would be visiting the area, but so far we’ve had nobody, not a single person, none of our regulars and no tourists. It is shocking.

“Business in our cafe is 100 per cent down and if it continues to run at a loss for the six weeks of the Games, losing thousands of pounds, we’ll have to close it.

“We’ve got three exhibitions, artists displaying and selling their wares, and special events in the evenings and weekends, and we still have to pay for food ordered for events.

“It is very disappointing for volunteers coming in.”

Ms Charters believe the main reason is that Bromle-By-Bow station is not being promoted as a transport hub for the Games.

Ms Charters, who is herself a volunteer at the Olympic Park, said: “Everyone is being sent to Stratford and straight in and out of Westfield.

“Nobody knows we are here, despite promotional leaflets listing us, and there is hardly anyone on the canal towpath between here and the park.

“If Bromley-by-Bow had been promoted as a stop for the Games then maybe more people would have come here.

“I can understand they need to get people in and out of the Olympic Park quickly and safely but it’s a shame.”

The mill’s cafe and shop is open everyday from 11 - 4pm, while during the Games the house mill is open for tours from, 12 - 3pm, from Wednesday to Sunday.