A TOWN centre coffee shop boss has vowed to appeal after a decision ordering him to close led to planning officials being branded jobsworths.

Ian Finch faces losing his life-savings, home and redundancy money, all of which he invested in his new franchise, in King William Street, Blackburn.

But he is determined not give up without a fight. He has pledged to appeal against the decision -- and a petition put in his cafe yesterday lunchtime collected 50 signatures in just one hour.

Members of the planning and highways committee at Blackburn with Darwen Council ruled his business could not carry on in its location as it was not a regular shop.

The unit has been designated for A1 -- strictly retail -- use by the council, but all food outlets fall within category A3.

Mr Finch, of Barrowford, said he had been told by the owners of Puccino's that all of their coffee houses operate in A1 premises.

It is an argument backed up by Puccino's head office in Epsom.

But Coun Frank Connor, chairman of the planning committee, said: "Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of sympathy with the applicant and this is a tough decision to take.

"But we cannot allow people to ride roughshod over us by opening up as and when they please. I know other councils treat A1 and A3 the same but for us, that would be crazy. We need to make sure there are shops in King William Street.."

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration, said: "While I am sure this venture adds to Blackburn town centre, I do not think people change where they shop because of it.

"For Puccino's to be successful we need to have shoppers coming in. They won't come in and eat at his place if there are no shops and we need to keep shops."

However, fellow Labour Coun Don Rishton stormed: "Last year, this council allowed the Halifax to open inside Burtons in what is a much bigger unit in a much more prominent location. That isn't bringing new shoppers into the town but I can see this coffee shop making a real difference. It looks very good. Maybe he should have checked his facts before opening but I this is another example of the council favouring big firms over small traders."

And Coun Paul Browne added: "I think the proposal to shut him down is ridiculous. He is providing employment and something new for the town."

Today he added: "This council has gone crackers, with jobsworths following the letter of the law. Comparisons have been made between Darwen Street and King William Street when they are so obviously different."

Mr Finch said: "I am going to fight on. It has been my dream to open a shop like this and now it is being snatched away from me.

"I have a large following already in terms of customers and it adds a new dimension to the town."