A SHOPKEEPER made an emotional appeal to his local council to back him in his fight to stop a former community pub being turned into a rival supermarket.

Onkar Somal acknowledged he was also trying to save his Yarm shop, Lifestyle Express, which he said had been a centre of anti-social behaviour before he took it over several years ago.

But he told Yarm Town Council that he and his family, including two young children, had worked hard for seven years to turn the shop on Turton Road, Yarm into a centre for the community.

After hearing his plea and that 840 people had written letters opposing turning the former Layfield Arms pub into a small supermarket , Yarm Town Council agreed to write a letter in support of Mr Somal.

Mr Somal, who comes from the Birmingham area, said that when he first took over the shop was actually blacklisted by some businesses, but its reputation had now radically improved. He has a licence to open until 11pm, but closes at 8pm in keeping with the wishes of the community. Mr Somal and his family even deliver to pensioners on the estate.

He said: "We would like to thank all our community for all their support, they are like family to us now. They're a big multi-national company coming to take over but we're going to fight back."

The new shop would have a cash machine, but Mr Somal said he was going to have a free machine in his shop from April 15.

Meanwhile, Laura Stubbs said she was concerned at the prospect of losing a community pub that could potentially reopen. The Layfield Arms has opened sporadically, but has largely been closed for the last 18 months.

Mrs Stubbs, who has been delivering leaflets in the area, passed a petition around the council for members of the authority to sign and said: "A community asset is going to be lost and it is so hard on Onkar who has worked so hard and will do anything for anybody."

Prism Planning, agents for the Layfield's developers Sigma Marlborough, has submitted plans to Stockton Borough Council for permission to make external alterations to the property and install an ATM but, in fact, planning permission was not needed for a change of use.

Peter Monck, chairman of Yarm Town Council, and other councillors agreed to write a letter to Stockton Borough Council in support of the community, but again stressed there was not much that could be done to prevent the loss of the community pub.

Anyone wanting to sign the petition against the plans can do so at Mr Somal's shop.