PEOPLE living close to a business trading without planning permission on greenbelt land say they have lost faith in Worcester City Council.

Alex Kear, and other homeowners on Droitwich Road, Worcester, are campaigning against Pots Direct, which has set up shop across the road.

"This is going to be a long-running battle," said Mr Kear.

"The council are doing nothing about the business, even though they are in the wrong.

"Our argument is not with the owner now, but with the council. They've had more than a month to do something. The only thing they've done is serve enforcement notices on them."

Pots Direct started trading during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend amid controversy.

The firm moved on to land formerly owned by Royal Worcester Porcelain and started trading almost as soon as the sale had gone through.

"They have big yellow signs, which the council takes down every Saturday, and then the owner puts them back up," added Mr Kear.

"We just want some action.

"By the time this is sorted summer will nearly be over and they will have made their money."

Worcester City Council has confirmed that planning permission has not been sought for the change of use from recreation to retail and the authority is taking action.

"We've served some enforcement notices on them and we're waiting to see if they'll appeal against them," said Peter Yates, head of development planning at Worcester City Council.

"They have until Monday, July 23, to do that. If they don't then we'll serve a stop notice and they'll have to stop trading straight away. They have another 30 days to remove all of the goods."

Mr Kear and the other residents have also spoken to MP Mike Foster about the matter.

"There's always going to be people who don't play by the rules," said Mr Foster.

"But people have got to have satisfaction about public services. If residents have any particular concerns they should contact me again."