Ashby councillors have raised objections to plans for a redesign of the front of the post office and newsagent shop in Market Street.

An artist's impression of the proposed shopfront appeared to show it becoming a Spar store - with its current name Supernews and Cards also on the signage - while retaining the current post office counter.

But, at Monday's meeting of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council's planning committee, one councillor described the new look as a 'dog's dinner', saying he could say the same about the current frontage.

An application, under the name of the Post Office in Market Street, has been made to North West Leicestershire District Council to alter internal and external signage and 'some window graphics'.

But councillors were also concerned that the redesign would also feature blocked out windows that would continue to prevent people seeing inside.

There was also a call for the application to be 'called in', which means it can be discussed publicly before the District Council make a final decision.

Cllr Mike Ball said: "I thought that in the Neighbourhood Plan there were policies that stopped people obscuring their windows.

"I think it's a dog's dinner as it is.

"And they're asking for this window now. They've got to remember what happened at the other end of Market Street with when that awful robbery happened.

"If the windows had been blacked out and no-one had been able to see what was going on inside, then the bloke would never have been apprehended.

"This looks dreadful in the main street."

Cllr David Bigby added: "They've been trying to sort something out for nine months or so.

"This is not a satisfactory solution. It looks as if the windows are obscured, but we haven't had 100 per cent clarification on that.

"I wouldn't like to see that if that were the case."

Cllr Bigby added that he would like to see this application called in at District Council level.