A PIZZA shop owner claims he is being ‘bullied’ out of his current base after 11 years serving customers in Colne.

Al Pacino’s has been in the town’s precinct since it opened in Colne, but with the lease up this year, the takeaway’s bosses have been told it is not being renewed.

The precinct was taken over by PEARL, Pendle Council’s development partner, last summer and since then they have set about rejuvenating the row of shops.

They have decided not to renew Al Pacino’s lease because the Tesco Express shop is set to expand into that unit.

But council chiefs have said they will find the popular pizza takeaway a new base in the town centre.

Ajaz Ahmed, speaking on behalf of Al Pacino’s, said: “Al Pacino’s started in Colne over 11 years ago but now PEARL want us to surrender the lease. This is their livelihood, it’s their business and they can’t afford to stop trading.

“A lot of the community have assumed Al Pacino’s wants to move to pastures new, but this is not the case.

“Al Pacino’s never had any intention of giving up the lease. They are being bullied to leave the shop after 11 years of service in Colne.”

The shop made its plea for further support when councillors on the Colne Committee discussed plans for a new Domino’s pizza takeaway, which was given approval to open on the precinct.

Coun Tony Greaves, who recently had a meeting with the owner of Al Pacino’s, said: “What they want is a unit in the centre of Colne and of the things we should discussing with PEARL is to find a unit that Al Pacino’s are happy with.”

Coun Joe Cooney, leader of Pendle Council and chair of the PEARL board, said they would continue to work with Al Pacino’s to help find them a suitable unit in Colne.