A proposal for a £200,000 tea shop in the heart of a Blackburn shopping district to cover its outside decking area which provoked a bitter neighbour dispute is set be approved.

The Mi Chaii outlet in Whalley Range opened in September able to accommodate 38 diners inside, with a further 21 outside on a specially-built terrace.

Owner Sonia Ahmed and her family-run Divine Patisseries Ltd applied to cover over the decking to extend the main cafe.

Her proposal was deferred by Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee in August after Whalley Range neighbour Asif Iqbal attended the meeting to object .

He told councillors: "There has been a horrific catalogue of violations of its planning conditions.

"It has breached its opening hours virtually every day since it opened."

Ms Ahmed has disputed Mr Iqbal's claims and said: "We always close at 11pm. He is simply wrong."

The cafe's opening hours are set by a condition on the original planning approval as 9am to 11pm.

The decking is supposed to close at 8pm but the application to enclose it seeks to extend its opening hours to match those of the restaurant.

Now planning officer Tom Wiggans has recommended the covering of the decking and extended hours should be approved with six conditions by this month's meeting of the planning committee.

His report to Thursday evening's session says: "Members will recall the application was deferred at the August 17 committee meeting to allow further consideration relating to the increased footprint and capacity of the premises.

"There was also concern expressed relating to the non-compliance by the applicant relating to the opening hours of the premises.

"This application seeks to extend the building to replace the outdoor seating area with a single-storey side extension so that all of the café/restaurant space would be indoors.

"The applicant has clarified that access to this enclosure would be via the main Café. There would be no external doors.

"The proposal seeks to provide greater comfort for customers and allow more efficient management of the café/restaurant space.

"The proposed alterations would result in an active, modern addition that would be in keeping with the existing building.

"The council’s public protection team raised no objections subject to restricting hours to the same as the rest of the café/restaurant.

"Positive effects include improved customer facilities at the café/restaurant, the associated social and economic benefits, and the reduction of existing noise arising from the open decking area which would be to the benefit of local residents."