AN historic ice cream shop in the Ribble Valley is bidding to expand the business ‘to secure it for future generations of the family’.

The owners of Hudson’s Ices in Chatburn have applied to the borough council to change the use of their private lounge to a cafe at the site in Downham Road.

The shop opened as a butchers in 1913 but has been serving up fresh ice cream for 76 years, using the machinery installed at the end of the Second World War.

Owner Mandy Paul said that the idea of opening a cafe had been mooted by their customers for some time.

She said: “We are keeping our fingers crossed that it is approved.

“So many people have been asking us about this and everyone thinks that it’s a great idea.

“It will help secure the future of the business for future generations of the family.

“It’s a great way to expand the business.

“Since our daughter moved out we have had more room and we used to use it as a bit of a store room instead of a lounge.”

Residents and the parish council have been given until Friday, July 4, to register their opinions on the application with the borough council.

In a statement to the borough council, owner Mark Paul said: “Our current property is a homemade ice cream shop and we wish to propose a change of use on the property to compliment our current established local business.

“The development would see our living room and shop area become a single room with a new doorway.

“This single space would allow us to continue the traditional use of this building as a local business by offering customers a seated area whilst enjoying our current wares.”

“The change of use would not see the current business change dramatically but it would allow customers to sit in and enjoy our goods, especially in winter.”

The application is set to be discussed by the borough council in the coming weeks.