THE owner of a takeaway off Taunton town centre is planning to open another food business two doors away.

A planning application has been made to open a restaurant in East Reach specialising in fried chicken.

It is a couple of yards from Mr Scrumptious, run by the same owner and which specialises in kebabs.

The owner, Mr Welch, has applied to Somerset West and Taunton Council for a premises' change of use from shop to restaurant at 3 East Reach.

The plans are to install a food preparation area at the rear of the property, with a customer service area at the front, including room for up six customers to eat in.

Mr Scrumptious would continue to trade separately.

3 East Reach is currently used for storage of food, preparation and ancillary equipment.

The planning application submitted to the council says: "This has made the premises look closed down and somewhat of an eyesore."

If approved, the former shop would be converted into "a bright new takeaway".