A pilates teacher is fighting to save his home studio after being ordered to shut it down by a council for stretching the rules.

Jon Hawkins was served an enforcement notice by North Norfolk District Council for running his business, Free Range Pilates, from a converted barn at his Weybourne home without the required planning permission.

He had previously been granted planning permission to convert the building into a private gym, home office and shower room, but he is now using it as a studio to teach pilates to private clients, which the council says is unauthorised.

Officials have ordered him to stop using the building for commercial purposes.

They said he would be unlikely to get proper planning permission because the business will create traffic problems on The Street through the village.

But Mr Hawkins has now appealed the enforcement notice in a bid to keep his studio open.

North Norfolk News: The pilates studio in The Street, WeybourneThe pilates studio in The Street, Weybourne (Image: Adam Barker)

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The council received his appeal on March 14, which is now being dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.

Mr Hawkins, a former osteopath who has been teaching pilates for 15 years, has been approached for comment.