THE owner of a Chinese takeaway has been allowed to continue in business - partly as a result of a newspaper food review.

Mr V Phan has asked Blackburn with Darwen Council for a certificate of lawfulness for the premises on the ground floor of 8 Markham Road in Witton.

It was granted after planning officer Emily Colebourne was satisfied it had been serving hot food 'to go' for at least a decade.

In a report she says: "The application site relates to an end of terrace, corner property which fronts Markham Road and Franklin Road.

"The site is situated within the urban boundary of Blackburn.

"A Lawful Development Certificate (existing) application has been submitted for the confirmation of the use of the property as a hot food takeaway.

"In this case the assessment should be based on whether the hot food takeaway has been in operation at the site for 10 years or more.

"Evidence has been provided which shows that the property in question has been operated as a takeaway since at least 2005.

"An application was submitted in 2005 for the ‘retention of existing extractor fan for the Chinese takeaway’ "Furthermore, evidence has also been submitted in the form of a snippet from a newspaper article which was published in the Lancashire Telegraph reviewing the hot food takeaway on May 26 2006.

"Blackburn with Darwen Revenues and Benefits Department has provided corroborating information that the premises has been operating as the ‘Mayflower’ since April 28 2005.

"Accordingly, the available evidence is considered to adequately support the applicant’s claim that the hot food takeaway use has been in continuous existence for the requisite 10 year period; to enable granting of a Lawful Development Certificate (existing)."