HUNDREDS of shoppers are backing a long-established Ilkley greengrocer who could be forced out of business in a Bradford Council crackdown over plants for sale outside the shop.

RK Asquith & Son, which has been in business on Grove Promenade for 30 years, received a letter telling it to remove the trays of flowers and bedding plants it regularly displays on a paved area, or risk having them confiscated.

The shop's owners say it has never received any complaint from passers-by about the plants, and supporters of the business have claimed it is an attractive feature, at a time when the Council is cutting back on gardening services, leaving flowerbeds sparse.

Asquith's says the loss of the plants side of their business could take away an important part of trade and could even mean the business is no longer viable.

Since they they started a petition on Saturday, 300 people have signed.

A discussion between Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ilkley, The Independents) and the Bradford Council Executive member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, Alex Ross-Shaw, suggested the Council was to withdraw its enforcement notice on the shop and pass the matter on to its car parks division.

But the shop has not been informed that the threatened action has been withdrawn.

Andrew Asquith, who runs the shop with his mother, Judy, said: "We've been doing this for over 30 years. All the local councillors are supporting us and all the customers have been supportive, in fact, the amount of support has been overwhelming."

An officer was due to visit the shop yesterday to talk to the owners and see the plants.

The initial enforcement letter suggested the plants were actually taking up space in the nearby central car park, said Mr Asquith.

Cllr Anne Hawkesworth has been in talks with senior Council members about the issue.

She said: "If Asquiths cannot continue with the plants then council policy needs to change. One size does not fit all, or horses for courses, springs to mind."

The enforcement came a few months after the Council's ban on A-boards on the streets of Ilkley came into force.

And another Ilkley business, Leeds Road cafe, Toast, alerted local people via social media this week that it had been told to move a bench outside its premises.

Bradford Council had not provided any comment at the time of going to press.