A MOBILE barber’s business has been given the chop because it fell foul of planning laws.

Carl Flood, of Ipswich Road, Ardleigh, had been trading on private land in Iconfield Park, Harwich, for three weeks before Tendring Council ordered him to leave.

Mr Flood, 28, had permission to use the land, but the site was not designated for business purposes.

The father-of-three had spent £9,000 kitting out an old van with wooden panels and mirrors.

He said: “It was doing really well, then they came to tell me to move.

“Health and safety came down the week before and gave me the all-clear. I’m a fully-registered business.

“Now I have to sign on because I can’t get any work.”

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, said Mr Flood was asked to leave the area because he was trading illegally.

He added: “He was given advice by the council officer and was offered an appointment to speak to the council’s licensing services, but he refused.

“We would still be happy to talk Mr Flood through the process.

“We have explained he needs to find a private site that either has planning permission, or the owner needs to seek planning permission for him to carry out his trade.”

Mr Flood is seeking permission from the landowner to continue his business.

He said he got the idea for a mobile barbers shop while working in Spain and eventually plans to take his business there because the rules are less strict.