THE boss of a 40-year-old scrap metal firm today vowed to fight council chiefs after accusing them of trying to drive him out of town.

Ross Shekleton, managing director of Metro Metals in Burnley, said he was planning to take county court action after the council's decision to make him quit his Princess Way yard.

The council refused to renew his lease on the site, stating it wanted the land for its own parks recycling centre.

And a plan to relocate the 40-year-old firm on the Heasandford Industrial Estate -- a move which would have meant a £400,000 investment by the company -- was thrown out following objections from householders who said it would create an eyesore near their homes.

Councillors had planned to hold a joint meeting between residents, the firm and the council to thrash out any problems.

But in a surprise twist at the last council meeting, members unanimously backed a Labour move to withdraw from talks and not to offer the firm a lease on the two-acre site.

That, says Mr Shekleton, could mean the end of his company, which he said provided a vital recycling role in the area, processing 400 tons of waste each week. He said: "It is clear the council wants us shut down. We were happy to meet residents and explain to them there would be no noise -- their homes are 300 metres from the site which would be screened, landscaped and there would be neither nuisance nor eyesore.

"But the council is not even giving us the chance to be heard. What kind of democracy is that?"

Mr Shekleton warned that closure would leave six employees out of work and would lead to scrap metal being dumped on streets, providing the council with its own headache.

"The Government has stressed the need for recycling and we play an integral role in recycling in East Lancashire -- a role strictly controlled by the Environmental Agency -- yet Burnley does not seem to take the same view."

Mr Shekleton, 35, added: "We run a profitable, successful business, a long-established business, which is an asset to the local economy, but so far as the council is concerned, we are just not wanted." He added the preliminary hearing into the present lease issue would take place at Burnley county court in September.

But Burnley Council leader Stuart Caddy defended the council's stance saying they had "listened to the people" and acted on what they wanted in their ward.

He said: "We are not trying to drive him out of town. He had opportunities to put his points forward at urban regeneration meetings, but there were not enough guarantees to satisfy the council or local residents.

"I also understand that that kind of development is against planning guidance for businesses for the Heasandford site.

"We are extremely concerned by the state of the present company site in Burnley town centre which is unsightly. The lease was up in June, but we have given the company an extra three months to find alternative premises so our action has been lawful.

"Officers will be talking to the company to look for alternative sites."