Brown urged to save oatcake shop

Campaigners say the oatcake is "an integral part of Staffordshire life"

Campaigners trying to save a traditional Stoke-on-Trent shop have called for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to step in and help them.

The Hole In The Wall in Hanley is the city's last oatcake shop which serves to customers on the street.

But it has been threatened with demolition as part of a major regeneration project in the city.

Those fighting to save it have now set up a petition on the Downing Street website.

Renew North Staffordshire, which is behind the regeneration project, has previously said it recognises the shop was important but its location was "difficult".

'Such a shame'

The organisation has said it is looking at moving the shop to an alternative location, but campaigners fear it will lose its character.

The shop, which has occupied the same spot for about 100 years, has been run by Glenn and Sue Fowler for the past 25 years.

Mr Fowler said: "There has been such overwhelming support for us - I had no idea that we would get this sort of response.

"I just want those behind the plans to come and talk to me. I don't want to move out of where we are at the moment. We've been here for such a long time, but if push comes to shove I probably won't have much choice."

Oatcakes are made of oatmeal, flour, yeast and a pinch of salt and are cooked on a griddle.

In the Potteries, they are traditionally filled with fried breakfasts and cheese but they can also be eaten with sweet fillings such as jam and golden syrup.

The petition states that the oatcake is "an integral part of Staffordshire life" and so the shop must be preserved.

Renew North Staffordshire plans to invest £2.3bn over 15 years to transform the housing market in the area.

It is one of nine Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder initiatives in England, which aim to build better homes in communities hit by low demand for property and poor quality housing.