A DARWEN shopkeeper is being backed by his local MP in his battle to change outdated council policy.

Usman Ghani, who owns Olive Lane Stores off licence and newsagents, is hoping to expand his shop into the terrace house next door.

But old council policy put in place to ensure sufficient housing in the town has so far led to councillors refusing the change of use.

Mr Ghani is now hoping MP Janet Anderson can turn around his fortunes.

Mrs Anderson has written to Phil Watson, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, to try to get the council's policy changed.

She said: "Mr Ghani has applied a number of times for planning permission to extend his shop by embracing the terrace house, which he owns.

"I understand this application has been refused on a number of occasions because the council has a policy which precludes the change of use of a dwelling to a shop.

"I can understand why this policy may have been put in place at a time when we were concerned in Darwen that town centre shops were closing.

"However, I do consider there is a need for this policy to be reviewed now that this is no longer the case.

"Mr Ghani is a stalwart member of our community.

"His shop is extremely cramped for space and I have no doubt that the majority in his local community would welcome the opportunity for him to expand and improve upon the service he provides to them by extending the boundaries of his shop in the way he is proposing."

Mr Ghani said: "I have applied for planning permission about three times since about 1995 and I have appealed once but lost.

"This was the reason I bought the house next door originally, and it's been going on for years now.

"The shop is cramped at the moment. If I get a couple of people in at once they are struggling to get round and it is a busy shop.

"One shop nearby closed so I get all their customers, too."