A YEAR-long row over the location of a deli bar in Blackburn town centre could be resolved within weeks.

Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed it has received a fresh planning application from the head office of Sussex head office of Puccino's, a franchise coffee bar firm which arrived in King William Street last year.

Its franchisee, Ian Finch of Barrowford, opened his doors last September - but failed to secure planning permission after being told by the company's lawyers that it was not required.

He believed retail and food outlets were treated as the same planning category at most councils.

But in Blackburn with Darwen, they are treated separately to make sure that the majority of units in King William Street, where Mr Finch opened up, are used by retail firms.

Councillors refused Mr Finch's first planning application, on the grounds that it did not conform to the council's planning rules, and began to prepare enforcement action to make him close his business down and return the outlet to its original state - an empty former menswear shop.

Their initial decision prompted a massive petition which included thousands of signatures from across the globe. One petition has been handed in, and Mr Finch plans to hand a second one in this week.

Mr Finch, a former employee at Rolls-Royce, Barnoldswick, said today: "It has taken so long to get the second planning application in because we have been talking to the council to make sure it is totally right.

"I'm hoping they listen to what everyone has been saying, and realise that we are helping to improve the town."

Blackburn with Darwen Council confirmed today that the planning application had been received, and was now being dealt with by planning officers.

Because it has attracted petitions and representations from the public, it will be decided by the planning and highways committee and not by officers using delegated powers.

It will probably come before councillors in May.