HOME Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw agreed that small businesses would be unable to compete with large stores this Christmas, with the controversial crackdown on outdoor displays.

Mr Straw voiced his concerns in a letter to Mike Crane, owner of Eanam Furniture Store, Blackburn, after the two discussed the matter at the Home Secretary's surgery.

The letter also said that Mr Straw had received a number of complaints from other shopkeepers throughout the borough.

The letter added: "I understand that as small businesses, without having your own way of advertising, you are unlikely to be able to compete with larger stores."

The move by the council, which aims to clear pavement hazards, took a new twist as Mr Straw made contact by post to the chief executive and leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council for more information about the matter. Mr Crane, who is campaigning for clearer guidelines and for a complaint-led ban on outdoor displays to be overturned, said: "This is a light at the end of the tunnel. Obviously the Home Secretary views it with some concern that he has written a letter to the council within a matter of days since I notified him of the problem."

Mike is spearheading a petition to send to both the council and Mr Straw against the move to force traders to comply with rules introduced in the 1980 Highways Act which govern the display of signs and goods on pavements.

He said: "Traders fear they will lose business in the run-up to Christmas because of laws banning pavements displays.

" I have already had countless calls from business people saying they will have to close if this situation continues."

"The council could not have implemented this ban at a worse time, right on the run-up to Christmas. There are big adverts and massive sign-posting to the larger stores. If we don't have outdoor displays, how can we possibly compete?"

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