PLANNERS acted quickly when period windows started to be removed from an historic Teignmouth town centre building.

The owner of the Georgian property, which contains flats and the Central Fish Cafe, instructed workmen to remove the curved sash windows and replace them with uPVC double glazed units last week.

Several residents were horrified, and contacted Teignbridge Council, which immediately sent an officer to the scene at the Lower Brook Street-Wellington Street junction, and ordered that the original windows should be reinstated, as it was a listed building in the conservation area where there are strict rules over alterations.

'The building probably dates back to the early 1800s