CLOUD Nine cafe on the Malvern Hills is to be knocked down and replaced with a three-bedroom house.

The cafe, on Jubilee Drive, Upper Colwall, has been closed since April. Owners Martin and Andrea Searby blamed a downturn in trade.

They cited the foot and mouth crisis and the introduction of double yellow lines in front of the building as some of the reasons for the loss of custom.

They also claimed the decision by the Malvern Hills Conservators to allow mobile refreshment outlets to operate on the hills had impacted on their trade.

But objectors to the proposals said the cafe should be retained because it was a community feature. Objectors also criticised the design of the new home - neighbours claimed the two-storey house would lead to a loss of their privacy.

The Conservators refused to support the application because they claimed the new development would be an eyesore. However, planners from Herefordshire Council agreed with the Searbys that the business was no longer a going concern.

At a meeting of the council's planning committee on Wednesday, the plan was approved subject to a number of conditions.