A BAR owner is celebrating after councillors approved plans for a new tapas bar in Billericay.

Mark Stevens, who already runs two bars in Brentwood, plans to spend £200,000 into doing up the empty unit in High Street which used to be the old Emporium shop.

Despite fierce opposition from residents Basildon Council's planning committee said they could not find any adequate planning grounds to refuse the application.

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY'S ECHO.