AN empty shop in Redcar is to be turned into a bank or building society.

Council officers advised that the property at 3 High Street should only be used for retail purposes and that an application for an amusement centre further along the street had been refused on the same grounds.

But Redcar and Cleveland councillors said they felt it would be better to have the premises occupied to help prevent vandalism.

Committee chairman Councillor Peter Spencer said: "We felt unanimously it was right to approve the application.

"It is better to have a use for the building rather than it fall empty and possibly be subject to vandalism.

We appreciate the reasons why our officers recommended refusal because it is contrary to policy, but in this case we felt we were justified in overturning it."

Councillors agreed to change permission for the unit from retail to financial provision.