THE head of a successful packaging firm based in Ryall has warned his firm may have to move away from the area if his latest planning application is turned down.

Martin Smithson, managing director of 3Ss, has asked Malvern Hills District Council for permission to move the operation to a farm he owns in Duckswitch.

"Time is running out," he said. "Our business is still expanding. We need offices. If we don't win this application, I will appeal. If that's unsuccessful then yes, we will move away."

Mr Smithson has submitted a full planning application to convert redundant farm buildings he owns on Yewleigh Lane into offices.

He is hoping alterations to plans for road access will nullify highways objections that saw his previous application turned down in November.

The A38-based firm specialises in packaging innovation and every supermarket chain in the UK, as well as many businesses in the USA, the Far East and South America, features at least one of its products.

The firm is responsible for plastic supermarket bags that open themselves, super-strong bottle-holding bags that keep their contents separate and a "double-glazed" bin bag that is twice as strong as the normal sort.