A CAFÉ owner who fought to stop Subway from opening up on his doorstep says “fighting a losing battle” left him defeated.

Joe Federico, who owns Woodford Café, in George Lane, South Woodford, tried to block the sandwich chain from opening up – but it was granted approval on Thursday.

The 38-year-old, who has been running the café with his brother, Robert, for 15 years, fears it will cause anti-social behaviour and litter.

But despite 130 complaints, Redbridge Council’s planning committee approved it at a meeting.

Mr Federico said: “It was a waste of time and a waste of breath complaining. I wish I had never even bothered. It was a losing battle.

“If this happens again I won’t bother complaining. I’m really upset about this. It’s an unfair system.

“I feel the council looked at this purely in black and white, and not anything else.”

There are nine Subways in Stratford, two in Chingford and Leyton, one in Leytonstone and one in Barkingside.

Although the shop it is moving into used to sell shoes, Subway does not need to apply for a licence to extend the premises opening hours due to a legal loophole.

Planning permission was also approved to change the traditional Victorian shopfront to suit the chain’s branding.

The brothers also blasted the “ridiculous” opening hours from 7am to 11pm and while they say they are not concerned about losing trade, they fear it will create other problems.

Mr Federico added: “I’m hoping losing trade won’t affect us, I just don’t particularly want it next door to me. I don’t want their customers trying to sit on my outdoor tables.

“There’s too much food in the high street – we don’t need another food place and we certainly don’t want another food chain.

“We’ve already got a Costa, a KFC and a Sainsbury’s. We don’t need this.”

The Guardian contacted Redbridge Council and Subway for comment.