A MAYOR has called upon residents to support local businesses ahead of the opening of a chain store in the town.

Domino's Pizza will be opening a new store in Windermere and has posted construction progress updates on Facebook in the lead-up.

But Mayor Adrian Legge, of Windermere Town Council, has expressed his dismay at the decision to open.

He said he was 'disappointed' at the chain moving into the town, given the wide array of local, independent choices for food and drink.

And he is worried the new store will be out of keeping with the aesthetic of Bowness and Windermere.

He has called for Domino's to keep the appearance of the shop 'restrained' and 'in harmony' with the local area.

And his worries are that independent pizza shops will be competing for the same business that the new chain will be vying for.

The new store will be opening in May, located centrally on Lake Road.

It is moving into the former premises of Express Pizzeria and Grill.

The Mayor said: "Windermere and Bowness already have several independent pizza shops so I am disappointed to learn that a national chain considers it worthwhile to add to the existing outlets, all of which will compete for the same custom. 

"I would hope that the appearance of the shop will be restrained and in harmony with the surrounding buildings in the Conservation Area."

Domino's is an American company which has tens of thousands of outlets worldwide.

The only Domino's currently in South Lakeland is in Kendal but it has said it is excited to be expanding to a new area.

Ahead of the new store opening, they are giving away ten £100 vouchers for use in the store.

And they are currently hiring for all positions in the new venture.