Temperatures have hotted up in the ice cream war on Frinton's genteel sea front.

The man who began the controversy in the summer by offering ice creams to beach users today (friday) said he now intends to ask permission to change the use of his deck chair station into a kiosk.

Gary Grainge's plan follows hot on the heels of a bid by Ernie White, who brought notoriety to the town by winning a long battle to open the first fish and chip shop in 1992.

Earlier this week, Mr White submitted plans for two potential sites on the sea front to Tendring Council, requesting permission for a kiosk to sell toys, ice cream, other food and traditional seaside items.

Mr Grainge, 42, of Weeley Heath, has revealed he hopes to submit proposals before Christmas to the council to convert his deck chair premises into a kiosk similar to that planned by Mr White.

The deckchair station is within yards of where Mr White hopes to put his kiosk on the promenade below the greensward, almost opposite the town's main shopping street, Connaught Avenue.

Mr Grainge said: "I do not really think anyone stands a chance in hell, but for me to apply is only going to cost £60 so there is nothing to lose.

"I do not see that they will allow anyone to build anything in Frinton, that is where I think he will come unstuck, but I have already got the building. It is worth a try."

Mr Grainge raised a rumpus in the town in August, when he tried to get round regulations by hiring out paper flags for £1 and then giving free ice creams to each customer.

He eventually signed an undertaking at Colchester County Court agreeing to stop trading the ice creams, but he kept his lease to hire out deckchairs.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.