The owners of a farm in Heybridge have applied for retrospective planning permission for a café which was set up on their site earlier this year.

The Tallowin family, who have owned Chigborough Farm since 2011, hope to gain approval for the change of use of a previously vacant granary building on their site to a restaurant.

The café requires four full-time and up to 10 part-time staff to run it across the year.

In a statement with the application, agent Whirledge and Nott said the café would create an additional income stream for the business.

The statement said: "The proposed development, if allowed, would provide a further diversification opportunity to support the rural business whilst at the same time enabling a contribution to the district on an economic, social and environmental level."

It added: "The proposal will support the local rural economy through links with local businesses providing services to the restaurant."

The barn which is the subject of the application was used as a smokehouse and deli from 2004.

It was transformed in 2010 to accommodate a farm deli, tea rooms and gift shop, but this was shut in 2020 due to Covid.

The smokery is now run by food supplier Lambton and Jackson, while Black Pig Catering moved into the vacant granary building earlier this year.

The catering company has run a mobile catering service for events since 2015, and has now set up in the granary as a farm café.

No changes to the outside of the building are included in the application.

Inside, the building would provide a kitchen area, covers for 40 diners, a disabled toilet and a unisex toilet.

There is already a parking area on the site which can be used by visitors, and 23 extra parking spaces are proposed for the café.

Maldon District Council will make the final decision.