Viv Allinson spoke out as councillors threw out her second proposal to allow a restauranteur permission to take over Vivi's.

"If I don't get change of use or something radical isn't done about the rent and rates, I shall simply go and there will be another empty shop or charity shop," she said.

"They say it's blackmail. I say it's reality."

Mrs Allinson said she'd had no interest from retailers wanting to take over her prime King Street spot - despite it being on the market for nine months.

Last year she courted controversy by displaying a sign in her shop window, warning browers to stay away.

This week she promised another shop front missive to draw attention to her latest dilemma.

"Since I've been here dozens and dozens of shops have come in," she said.

"They all thought it was a licence to print money, which it's not, and they've gone."

Mrs Allinson, who has been trading in King Street for 13 years, said her main gripe was with investment landlords, who she claimed bought into Knutsford in the buoyant 80s.

She said they refused to compromise despite a drop in trade.

But she also attacked Macclesfield Borough Council for implementing an 'exhorbitant' business rate for 'few services'.

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