A former chip shop in Huntingdonshire has suffered a break-in as a planning application hopes to re-open the site.

The owner of the shop, known as The Codfather, in St Neots, Yusuf Cimikoglu submitted a licencing application to re-open the building on Huntingdon Street as a takeaway called Jozef's Kitchen.

The initial application said that Jozef's Kitchen would be a late night fish and chip and chicken takeaway which serves alcohol into the early hours of the morning.

However, at a Huntingdonshire District Council licensing sub-committee meeting held on July 9, the business was refused a licence to sell alcohol at the site which is close to the town's ambulance station, schools and local residents.

Recommended Reading: Codfather in St Neots will not become takeaway after refusal

The committee gave two reasons for refusing a licence. It said: "The premises is unsuitable for the sale of alcohol due to its proximity to the Ambulance station, schools and local residents.

"The grant of a licence would therefore impact the licensing objectives of Crime and Disorder and Public Safety."

The building sits at 66 Huntingdon Street, a residential area in St Neots. Its location has caused some nearby residents to object to the plans.

On July 23, after the licence had been refused, the building suffered a break in. The doors on the site were broken and the toilet was smashed.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: "A break-in to the premises, which was closed, between 6pm and 7pm on July 23. It is not known if anything was stolen but there was some damage caused. No arrests have been made."

Mr Cimikoglu, who is behind the plans, has said: "People are trying to stop us from succeeding".

Since then, locals have rallied around Mr Cimikoglu and offered their support for his plans, calling the new owner a "hard working business man". Others have said that Mr Cimikoglu "doesn't deserve this" as he tries to re-open the site.