Epping Town Council has objected to plans which will see Clinton Cards turned into an iCandy store.

The Clintons shop in Epping High Street was the first ever shop of the company to be opened in 1968.

The founder of the company, Don Lewin, based in Chigwell, opened the specialist greeting card shop, creating the company Clinton Cards, named after his son, Clinton.

However, now son Clinton has put in an application to turn the shop, a Grade II listed building, into an iCandy card and gift store.

The town council has objected to initial plans to change the signage of the shop at a meeting on Tuesday based on the fact the new iCandy sign will be internally illuminated.

Town clerk, Alan Shaw said: “Because of the High Street being a conservation area, we believe it would be a detriment to the historic nature of the street if iCandy were allowed to internally illuminate their sign.

“All other shops along the High Street have lights which project down onto the sign, which is fine, but on the basis that iCandy want to internally illuminate their sign, we are objecting the plans.”

The application will now go to the district council for a decision.