A PET shop claims it could be forced to close after being threatened with legal action - over two flower trolleys.

A complaint was made against Dog's Dinner in Kirkdale Road, Leytonstone, last year over its use of a small part of the pavement outside the shop to display flowers.

The business, which has been running for 35 years, was then fined by the council for breaching bylaws by trading without a street licence.

But the defiant business continued to sell the flowers in protest at the £1,222 charge for the licence and have now been threatened with legal action.

However, 300 people have signed a petition in support of the shop's stance and the authority itself is set to relax laws on street trading to boost the economy.

Owner Aysen Hakki said: "We rely on the flowers to bring in a little extra money which tides us over during the winter months.

"We could end up forking out a lot in the court case and people also take the flowers as a sign we’re open. We have noticed a downturn since they were confiscated."

The business has now agreed to pay for the licence, but claim they are still being prosecuted.

Store assistant Bob Auger said: "They should really be helping little places like this, it’s what makes the borough interesting. They want to slaughter us instead."

Current rules see all shops charged a flat amount to trade in the street regardless of the size of the display.

The new proposal would require retailers to pay less for smaller displays.

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