Owners of a Sutton bakery have sold their business just days after winning their battle to turn the premises into a caf.

Last month a planning inspector granted permission for Trevor and Helen Hepworth to install seating at the bakers on Holme Lane, Sutton.

The Hepworths, who said they had considered giving up after a long-running battle with planners, have left the bakery which is to re-open under new management with an additional delicatessen.

Mrs Hepworth said: "Things just got on top of us and it just got too much. It's been a hard four years.

"We're sorry to leave because we've had a lot of support from customers over the years."

Owner of the building, Antonio Rosso, criticised Sutton Parish Council for opposing the planning permission for the bakery extension and caf.

"At the end of the day does Sutton Parish Council want every little shop in the village to close down?" he said.

Parish council chairman Steve Morrell and planning chairman Chris Suri said in a statement: "This parish council certainly does not want every little village shop to close down.

"On the contrary, if there is any way we can support local businesses we would be only too pleased to help in whatever way we can. The parish council received numerous representations expressing serious concern about traffic and the safety of children at the junction of Holme Lane and Bridge Street.

"It was the unanimous opinion of the council that further development of the bakery would exacerbate the safety problem at this widely recognised traffic blackspot."