A newsagent that has been up for sale for years without attracting a buyer could be turned into a takeaway pizza parlour.

Raheel Deen has lodged an application with Swindon Borough Council to change Harrison’s Newsagent in Newport Street in Old Town into a takeaway.

But some neighbours have concerns, particularly about delivery vehicles and late-night disturbance.

Mr Deen’s application says: “There are no takeaways located on Newport Street.

"The proposals would result in the loss of a shop.

"However the business has been on the market since January 2016, despite changing estate agents and reducing the price on a number of occasions, the owners have been unable to find a buyer.”

Neighbour Raymond Jenkins, 91 lives between the shop and the Steam Railway pub.

He said: “This is pretty good area at the moment.

"The pub is very good we don’t have many problems from them with noise or disturbance.

“If it’s going to be a takeaway, will they be delivering, and having people pick up?

"If so, I can see a problem with vehicles.

"There are double-yellow lines here and a crossing and I think vehicles will be parking on the pavement.

“There’s not much noise from the pub and none from the newsagent now, so I’m a bit worried about noise late at night when people who have been out want a pizza and litter and things like that. I hope there won’t be these sorts of problems.”

Mr Deen’s application says he wants to open the takeaway between 3pm and 11pm every day. It adds that he expects customers picking up pizzas themselves to use the public car park directly across the street.

If approved the front of the building will be changed.

A double door would be installed, instead of the single door “which will make the shop accessible to all".

Planning permission is not needed for separate bid to convert the upper floors into two flats. Mr Deen, who runs a pizza company in Stockton on Tees in County Durham, wants to add a two-storey rear extension to the building.

The owners of the newsagent declined to comment.