OWNERS of an antiques centre in a converted church have been given the go ahead to demolish part of the listed building to build a house.

Councillors who visited Holden Wood Antiques on Grane Road, Haslingden, approved the plan against the advice of planning officers.

The antiques centre opened last November in the former St Stephen's Church. A week before it opened, thieves broke into the building and stole £5,000 worth of antiques.

Despite added security, partners John Ainscough and Mary Crossley believe the church will be targeted again. They asked for permission to demolish the single storey vestry of the church and replace it with a three bedroomed manager's house, more than double the size of the vestry. English Heritage and the Ancient Monuments Society objected to the initial design for the extension in reconstituted stone with a tile roof.

Revised plans approved by Rossendale Council's planning committee include natural stone and slates from a demolished church of about the same age.

Mrs Crossley's husband Peter said: "Hopefully, when the building is finished, you won't be able to see the join."

Mr Crossley added that either his or Mr Ainscough's family would live in the house.

He said: "We've been advised by the police that for security purposes one of the partners should live on the premises. Since that first burglary we have lived in constant fear of another break-in."

Permission was granted over a year ago for a smaller house extension but the owners pressed for a family-sized house.

Haslingden Councillor Bob Wilkinson said: "Most people would have preferred something smaller but a lot of the building will be hidden by trees on the site."

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