A FAMILY who built a porch to store a mobility scooter for their disabled son could have to knock it down because it is too close to the street.

Frank Davies, who lives with his wife, son and daughter in Pembroke Street, built the porch to store the scooter thinking he did not need planning permission.

Mr Davies, whose son William has not been able to walk since he caught TB and meningitis at the age of two, said: “We're not supposed to store the elecric scooter in the house because of the fire risk, and anyway there just isn't room for all the equipment.

“I did ask whether I needed planning permission before the porch was built and I was told that I didn't.

"I also asked all my neighbours and they were all happy with the idea.

“But now someone has complained and the council are saying that I shouldn't have built it. I don't know what we're going to do.

“We spent a lot of money on the porch. It was well-made by a local firm and I thought I was doing the right thing."

Coun Darren Reynolds, who represents the Queensgate ward, said he was originally told in an email from a planning officer that the porch was "not acceptable" and that it was a decision for council officers, not councillors.

But now following his intervention a decision on whether the family can retain the porch is set to be made by councillors on the development control comm-ittee next week.

Coun Reynolds said: “I can't understand why anyone would have a problem with this porch.

"It's not blocking anyone's window, it looks pretty enough, it's built entirely on Mr Davies' property in his small front yard.

"This is the only place that it could go.”

Sue Graham, Burnley Council's head of planning and environment, said: “There were objectors to this application and we have to take their views into account as well as those of the family.

"The council is very sympathetic to the needs of this family and we're doing what we can, including suggesting alte-rnatives to the porch.”