HUNDREDS of customers are backing an Accrington cash and carry boss who broke planning rules when he began to operate it as a supermarket.

NH Food Store, in the former Globe Works building, Brown Street, was granted planning permission earlier in the year, but with strict conditions attached.

The store, which specialises in ethnic food, was not allowed to operate as a general retail outlet, but after complaints to Hyndburn Council's enforcement officer, an inspection was made.

The council claims the store is fitted out 'entirely as a supermarket.' Now the firm's boss, Nazir Hussain, has applied for retrospective planning permission, but it is likely to be refused at a meeting tomorrow.

A report to the council's planning committee says that permission would go against policies controlling shop developments in the borough.

But local residents want the shop to stay. Tracey Fletcher, 31 of Willows Lane said: "I don't understand what the council's problem is, this place has stuff the town centre just doesn't have so its no competition."

And Nasreen Bi, 35, of Richmond Road said she would have to get her children to get the shopping for her if the store closed.

She said: "I would have to travel to Blackburn and Manchester to get the sort of food they sell in here and its just too far."

She added: "I was really pleased when this place opened."

A petition signed by 238 customers has been submitted to the council and manager Majed Hussain said he hopes they will listen to what people want. Mr Hussain, 24 said: "What the council don't seem to realise is if they close us people will travel elsewhere and while they are there shop for other things such as clothes, meaning less people will shop in Accrington, not more."

The council report said the business could increase on-street parking in the area but Mr Hussain said that is not a problem because it is a specialist shop.

He said: "We can park 20 cars at the front and there are never that many because we are not a normal supermarket with lots of customers at once."

He added: "Lots of people walk here anyway. And we also load at the side so the main street is never blocked."