A UNIQUE Lymm gardening business that provides fuchsias across Europe has been given the backing of councillors.

Walton Nurseries, based in Cherry Lane in Lymm, is a new business that is devoted to the cultivation of fuchsias and owner Ray Walton applied to council planners for a mobile caravan that is vital to keep the company alive.

And despite officers' objections to the scheme, on account of the fact that it would require development on the green belt, members of Wednesday's development control committee decided to support the application.

Mr Walton told the meeting that the building was necessary to allow him to live on site so that he could attend to the plants if there were any problems. He lost crops with years worth of growth a few years ago in just 15 minutes.

Clr Sheila Woodyatt said she supported the plans for the nurseries in spite of the building it would require because of its reputation in supplying plants across Europe.

She added: "This is a credit to the borough of Warrington and is a very unusual development."

Fellow Lymm member Clr Ian Marks added that the special circumstances of the nurseries allowed the council to make an exception to their rules.

He added: "They have invested a lot of money in this business and it is very difficult when you start up a business and it would be tragic if it didn't work out."

Councillors approved the scheme by five votes to three.