COMPETITION from a neighbouring store has led to the owner of a shop in Buttershaw deciding to turn the business into a restaurant.

Hiralal Mistry has submitted a planning application for 237 Cooper Lane, a small convenience store that has been open for 33 years. The business is next to a Premier Store, and Mr Mistry's application says: "The Premier Store is currently taking a large majority of the customers from the newsagents. The store provides great competition for the existing newsagents.

"The shop’s opening hours have reduced to part-time hours throughout the majority of day, with little or no business.

"The change of use would bring back an empty closing business back into full use, to the benefit of the vitality and viability of the Buttershaw area."

The restaurant would open until 10pm and employ four full time and two part time staff.