ONE of Blackburn's best-known firms is locked in a planning row after being refused an extension.

Paul and Marilyn Rigby, who took over the Tommy Ball's shoe shop, Hart Street, in June 2004, wanted to build a three-storey add-on.

But the scheme was refused by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Today Mrs Rigby revealed the plan was to bring back the 'hey day' of Tommy Ball's, founded in the 1950s, and is now to take the council to a planning appeal.

She said: "We wanted a three-storey extension but the council said it could be damaging to local retailers, which would be the town, really, I should imagine.

"They don't think that getting people up to Tommy Ball's from the town could also be a benefit. It's benefiting the town as a whole I would have thought. We are going to appeal.

"There's no other shop like Tommy Ball's now. It was the first and it's still one of the largest and we're trying to make it bigger and even get coach parties involved."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration said: "Despite requests, there was insufficient information contained in the plans.

"Should the applicant reapply with the correct supporting information, then it would be considered as part of the normal planning process."