TRADERS vowed to continue their David and Goliath fight with Burnley Council as the authority said it would carry out plans to buy six businesses in Curzon Street to allow a £55million shopping centre to be built.

The council's executive is expected to approve compulsory purchase orders on the shops which lie on the proposed development site so that negotiations can move forward on the Pioneer project.

But the small shops in the street say they will oppose the proposals.

Developer Henry Boot plans to build a flagship department store, possibly Debenhams, 22 two-storey shops and restaurants and bars in a public space dubbed The Oval.

The shops in Curzon Street face being knocked down, along with the former county court building, to make way for part of the new department store.

The red-brick county court building has been empty since the court moved to the Burnley Crown Court complex, in Hammerton Street, more than 10 years ago.

Negotiations between the developers and the stores will continue but if objections are not resolved, the Secretary of State will hold a public inquiry.

Kay Donohoe, owner of Waterlife and Pets in Curzon Street, said: "I have no choice but to fight because the council has not offered me any suitable alternative premises.

"My family have been in Burnley for three generations and I want to stay here but we are being steamrollered."

The developer is aiming to submit a planning application for the development, expected to create 400 jobs, by the end of March.

If that is approved, construction could start in the summer of 2007, and the complex could be completed by autumn the following year.

The Co-op store, which stood on the site, closed in January 2001 with the loss of 60 jobs.

It was demolished after the North West Development Agency gave a £1.8million grant to buy back the long-term lease from the Co-op so that Burnley Council could be the sole owners.

The compulsory purchase orders will be discussed at a meeting of the council's executive tomorrow.