The owner of a chicken shop that was destroyed by fire while suspected of trading in breach of a council order is due in court today.

Akhtar Khan is charged with four counts of breaching the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The charges were brought after Wood Street Grill & Chicken was allegedly found to have been trading as a hot food takeaway in August despite not having permission to do so.

The shop was gutted by fire on October 18 after a deep fat fryer was left on overnight.

No one was injured.