DRINKERS in Great Harwood will soon have an extra choice of watering hole after permission was granted to convert an empty shop into a new pub.

Hyndburn Council's development services committee approved plans to transform a former carpet shop in Towngate into a two-floor drinking place. And applicants Derek Brunt, licensee of Lomax Arms, and pal Mark Birtwistle hope that the new venture will help to keep drinkers in the area rather than got to Accrington town centre.

But the decision has met with reservations from other licensees who say there are already too many pubs. Mike Davies, tenant of The Cross Axes Hotel, Church Street, is worried about the venture.

He said: "In the last 12 months three pubs in the town have closed and we now have five that are close together. The trade is in decline already and although we are not doing too badly at the moment another pub will dilute the customers and profits.

"The Tavern which closed down has plans to reopen soon so there will then be seven which means another slice out of the cake.

"Great Harwood does need regeneration but I would like to see more retail shops being opened in the area rather than extra pubs."

Mr Birtwistle, who was duty manager at Roefield leisure club for three years, thinks there needs to be more pubs in the town. He said: "This is going attract more money to the area."