A COUNCIL in East Lancashire has lodged a petition to wind up one of its main shopping centre over unpaid business rates.

Last August property developer Craig Brandwood acquired Pendle Rise, in Nelson, with a pledge to fill empty units there.

Costa moved into the shopping centre soon after and Peacocks set up shop in the former Store Twenty Two store in Place de Creil.

But a petition has now been lodged to wind up Pendle Rise Management (NW) Ltd, which will be heard at the Companies Court in London on Wednesday, November 7.

A Pendle Council spokesman confirmed the petition had been lodged "because of unpaid business rates".

But the spokesman added: "As this is an on-going legal case it would not be appropriate to say anything further at this time."

Pendle Rise Management (NW) Ltd was unavailable for comment.