A to Z DIY and Plumbing of Fartown, Huddersfield, has reportedly ignored a ruling by its local planning inspectorate to close down.

According to The Huddersfield Examiner, the premises used to be a supermarket but were converted into a DIY store by the owners without planning permission. A ruling was made by Kirklees Council last May for owner Tariq Ali to close as a result of this action, but the store is reportedly still trading.

There have reportedly been a number of complaints from local residents due to local streets being blocked by lorries making delivers as well as workers using forklifts and making loud noises around the shop premises. The council reportedly ordered the store owner to demolish an illegal structure and remove all items for sale.

While the unauthorised timber building was reportedly removed and items for sale in the outdoor yard area removed, local press reports that the store has continued to operate from inside the premises, with customers reportedly seen coming to pick up goods from the store and the yard on a regular basis.

The council is currently investigating the issue, and said that trading on the site would be considered a criminal offence. A spokesperson said: " “The council previously issued an enforcement notice requiring the building and land to stop being used for the storage of plumbing and building materials.

“While we understand that building materials stored outside were removed, anyone continuing to deliver or collect materials from inside the building will be committing a criminal offence.

“Officers are monitoring the site and if there is evidence of the illegal use we will consider formal legal proceedings against the person carrying out the activity.”

Kirklees Council allegedly first issued enforcement action in June last year, but the business appealed to the planning inspectorate. It was in May of this year that this appeal was rejected and Mr Ali given just weeks to remove stock from the Cobcroft Road site.