THE owner of a recently closed award winning Indian restaurant has made a desperate plea for somebody to buy the premises before he is forced to declare himself bankrupt.

Former Rossendale councillor Abu Asad Chaudhury, owner of the Saffron Restaurant in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, has not been able to pay this month's mortgage re-payment after the business fell victim to competition in the area.

Abu took over the former Rainbow's End cafe 18 months ago with high hopes for the business.

He lives with his wife and six children above the restaurant but cannot afford the mortgage re-payments and will have to move out as soon as the business is sold.

He says the stress of his business falling apart is making him ill and extremely depressed.

"All the worry is making me ill, I can't stop thinking about it.

"I just want to get it sold as quickly as possible so I can start thinking about the future.

"We will have to move out and move into a council house until we get back on our feet.

"There were too many other similar businesses around to be able to compete and make a living. I am very upset that it has ended like this. I tried my best to make it a success but it just wasn't to be." Abu recently received the Gold Award from the website good food guide www.qualityfoodonline.co.uk.

But even that was not enough to stop his business going under.

He said: "All my regular customers commented on the quality of the food, but iI was paying out more than I was bringing in."

The three-storey building is on the market for £150,000, with commercial property specialists Kings Business Transfer handling the sale.

"It's in a central location and the potential for the property is fantastic," said Chris Rowlands, partner at Kings Business Transfer. "The building has planning permission for change of use and the vast interior covers three floors."

For more details and information about viewing Kings can be contacted on 0161 764 6000.