THE council has approved plans for a new restaurant and takeaway in the High Street.

Mirra restaurant will open where Bobby Swift Bookmakers used to be in Colchester High Street, and boards have been set up outside while work is carried out.

The new eaterie will serve a mix of barbecue, grill and mezze style dishes and there will be tables on both floors of the building.

The family-run Bobby Swift bookies was forced to shut in November 2014 because of increasing competition from Coral and Paddy Power.

As well as converting the building, applicant Ismet Cam was granted permission to install a new kitchen extraction system with a vertical exhaust duct on the rear wall.

The application was made in August and the council granted the plans on Tuesday.

In the list of conditions set out in Colchester Council's decision, the restaurant will be allowed to open between 7am and 11pm on weekdays and Sundays, and 7am to midnight on Saturdays.