It's known as the Starbucks effect' - when aggressive, powerful multinational chains move into an area and drive locally owned competitors out of business.

Towns and cities across the country, and indeed the world, have seen their streets colonised by the ubiquitous coffee chain - and now it appears to have happened in Worcester.

This time, the coffee chain in question is not the Seattle giant, but rival Caffe Nero. However, the effect is much the same as far as Roger Yeomans, who owns the Marbles café at Worcester Market Hall, in The Shambles, is concerned.

Mr Yeomans has been battling Caffe Nero since 2005, when it moved into shop space below him.

The city council had refused Mr Yeomans permission to move his own business into the premises - but then Caffe Nero took it over and began serving coffee there without council permission, severely damaging Mr Yeoman's trade.

Now, despite an earlier decision to deny Caffe Nero retrospective planning permission, the city council seems to have thrown in the towel and allowed the chain to stay.

This victory for Goliath over David is wholly unjust, and makes a mockery of planning regulations.

The council says it is not worth its while taking on Caffe Nero, as it would lose the fight.

Since when do elected bodies find it impossible to enforce their own regulations against commercial organisations that are acting illegally?

Rules are rules, and the council should ensure that firms such as Caffe Nero, however powerful they are, abide by them.

We must not let the high street bullies win.