MORE than 2,000 people have backed a coffee shop owner's campaign to be allowed to remain open as he resubmits a bid to keep trading.

Puccino's boss Ian Finch is asking for planning permission for his King William Street, Blackburn, venue in the hope that public pressure could save him from financial ruin.

Planning officials have already written to him suggesting he re-submits his planning application for the site.

In less than a month, 2,100 people have been into his shop and signed petitions, while letters of support for Mr Finch have also been sent to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The public backlash was sparked by the council's decision in September to throw out Mr Finch's request to operate in a former menswear store next to Marks & Spencer where he had opened without permission.

The council's new Local Plan states all new developments on King William Street must be retail only --and not food outlets.

Mr Finch said today: "The planning officers have been in to see me and said it should be discussed at the next planning and highways committee meeting.

"The difference between the application this time and the one last time is that this one shows how much people want a place like mine.

"The council have said they will take public opinion into consideration so it is just a case of hoping that it will all be sorted soon."

Planning chairman Coun Frank Connor said: "We are now moving to try and resolve the situation. In the light of the public support he so obviously has, we would like to take another look at the application.

"As a committee, we cannot tolerate people just opening up and breaking our planning laws but, at the same time, we have to take into account the opinions of the public.

"I think the volume of support he has now does make things different. I have written to explain to people why we did what we did, because we felt it was in the best interests of the town.