Council chiefs have threatened to block a new £200,000 children's adventure centre in Nelson.

Barrowford couple Mark and Nicola Nuttall, of Park Street, have spent 15 months searching the area for premises suitable for an indoor children's play centre.

They have applied to Pendle Council to convert a warehouse in Turner Road.

The £200,000 project would employ 20 people.

But councillors are threatening to reject the scheme because they are concerned that too many retail businesses are moving onto Lomeshaye Industrial Estate.

Regeneration chiefs have pledged to work with the pair for a month to bring the business -- and new jobs -- to an alternative venue in the borough.

Mrs Nuttall said: "As parents of two small children we know there are no similar large scale play centres in East Lancashire.

"We believe a safe place to play and explore is key to a child's development.

"The unit is difficult to let. It's been advertised since April and it's sitting empty.

"We've researched a large number of play centres across the UK and the vast majority are on industrial estates.

"We've been working with the regeneration department for 15 months.

"We need 10,000 sq ft, we need parking in the region of 40 cars and we need to be able to go eight metres high. You don't find that in town centres."

Chairman of Nelson Committee Coun David Foster said he was concerned about the loss of industrial land.

He said: "We are constantly being reminded of the shortage of industrial premises in Pendle.

"Something like Mr and Mrs Nuttall are coming forward with, in my view, should be more into the town residential areas rather than down there on an industrial estate.

"There's far too much retail down on Lomeshaye."

But other councillors hit out at moves to refuse the application.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal said: "I'm flabbergasted. This lady and gentleman have said they want to invest £200,000 of their money in this proposal to make use of a semi-derelict building.

"It has been empty for months and then you're saying, 'go away and look at something in the town centre'?"

Nelson Committee deferred the application, which was recommended for approval by planning officers, for talks to take place between Mr and Mrs Nuttall and council officers.