PLANS to extend an Indian restaurant in Ambleside sparked nine letters from concerned residents - but got the go-ahead from Lake District planners.

Mr F.

Rahman wants to enlarge the dining area at Tagore Indian Restaurant, on Compston Road, improve the sitting and waiting area, move the kitchen and extend the first-floor flat.

The plans include replacing the front canopy with a single-storey extension; building a first-floor extension at the back, over an existing flat-roofed extension; and building a new lean-to extension.

Residents wrote to the Lake District National Park Authority to express concerns about the loss of light and privacy from the "dominant" extension behind the restaurant; the " significant and unacceptable increase" in noise and cooking smells from the enlarged kitchen; and the plans being out of character with the surroundings.

In his report, planning officer David McGowan said the extension fronting Compston Road would look better than the existing canopy, while the extension at the b

ack would also be an improvement.

He did not believe it would be " unacceptably dominant" or block out neighbours' light significantly.

The plans were approved with conditions about kitchen ventilation and frosted glass in the ground-floor kitchen windows.