A SNACK bar which has been a welcome stopgap for motorists and tourists has been ordered to shut up shop.

The Tomato Dip caravan in the lay-by opposite the Hanover Hotel, Keighley Road, Skipton, had been serving food and drink for the last three years.

But when a cabin took its place it was deemed "unauthorised" and, despite receiving 300 letters of support, Craven District Council's planning committee ordered that it be closed down.

Owner of the snack bar Joan Wade said she would appeal against the decision. She said the original caravan was too small for three people to safely work in and customers had to queue outside almost on the main road, which she thought was dangerous.

She and business partner Steven Goodchild set up a more permanent cabin, put seating in and situated it as far off the roadside as possible. They pay rent to the land owner and have installed electricity, water and even connected it to a sewer. Mrs Wade and Mr Goodchild plan to spruce up the cabin by putting up hanging baskets and always make sure the lay-by and surrounding trees and bushes are free from litter.

They put the cabin on the site last October and waited until January to see if there would be any objections to it. When they heard nothing they re-opened the improved Tomato Dip in its new home.

When word got to the council's planning committee Mrs Wade applied to retain the cabin on a permanent basis.

But this week the committee turned down the application on the grounds of inadequate parking.