STAFF at Claims Direct's Nelson office were given a reprieve by councillors after planning officers had recommended that legal action be taken against the company.

Members of the Nelson Committee were advised to give the go-ahead to legal action being taken to cease the use of the building, in Manchester Road, as a non-shopping use.

But they decided to defer the decision until the next meeting on May 14 to get clarification of the planning policy six. The Claims Direct personal injury centre, which opened earlier this year, has never sought planning permission.

Planning officers said if it had it would have been refused since the percentage of non-shops already far exceeds the recommended amount.