A TATTOO studio has thanked Knutsfordians for their support after it unveiled plans to open in the town centre.

Rebecca Sturgeon submitted plans to convert the Orange Orchard shop on King Street into the town's first tattoo parlour.

The shop, run by Nicola Metcalfe, is still open while the plans are heard by Cheshire East Council.

The Guardian understands that the application has been submitted on behalf of Salvation Tattoo Design.

The company, which has four studios in the north west, responded to the initial story by posting a comment on the Guardian's Facebook page.

"Thank you everybody for you comments," the company said.

"But let me say that before we are even open we already have 4,800 friends on our Facebook page which is overwhelming support.

"If you look on our page we only have world class, European award winning artists and also competed in the New York Tattoo Convention last year and became the first English artists in the history of the convention to win an award for our skills.

"We only bring the highest of quality of artists and will only employ the artists with the best standard of skills.

"We as a company have four other studios, one of which became the first studio in Lancashire to be awarded the first ever five-star hygiene rating. Thank you to everyone for your support."

However, the plans suffered a setback in the first stage of planning permission, after Knutsford Town Council rejected the proposal on the grounds it would be 'detrimental' to the 'economic viability' of the bottom part of King Street if planning was approved.

In the minutes from the authority's planning meeting held on Monday, July 4, the council said: "The council objects to the change of use application on the grounds that a loss of an A1 retail unit in this location will be detrimental to the future vitality and economic vibrancy of this part of King St were footfall is lower.

"In the event that the change of use is granted the council requests a condition that the hours of operation are restricted to normal retail hours."

With respect to the listed building application for the same building the authority added: "The council raises no objections subject to the conservation officer’s approval of the proposed scheme and would request that advice is provided with respect to appropriate signage to be affixed to a listed building."