BLACKWOOD town centre could turn into "Dodge City" after the local authority paved the way for another fast-food restaurant, it has been claimed.

The planning committee of Caerphilly council has given permission to KFC to build a restaurant opposite the Aldi store on Blackwood High Street.

The store will have a floorspace of 237 square metres, incorporate an eight-metre-high tower and provide parking for 50 cars.

The town's problems with boy racers affected residents' quality of life for several years, until local police ran several successful operations to curtail it.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge said: "I don't think I'm overreacting here but the council has made the northern end of Blackwood the Dodge City of the Valleys.

"Blackwood will become the litter capital of the Sirhowy Valley, and this KFC will just create more noise and anti-social problems by attracting car cruisers from all over."

Concerned resident Arthur Bradfield said: "I'm disappointed because I believe there are too many fast-food outlets in the northern end of Blackwood now. This will bring people into the town from all over for the wrong reasons."

The Rev David Jones, of St Margaret's Church - across the road from the proposed restaurant - also said he was "saddened" by the decision.

"At the end of the day, the land is part of the High Street," said Mr Jones. "It just saddens me because the church is beautiful and the grounds are beautiful, and you'd think the council would want to make a feature of that.

"We have already got a McDonald's restaurant, but to be fair to them they try to do their best with litter. I hope KFC will be just as helpful."

Inspector Chris Hocking Brown said: "The boy racer problem is all but gone and Blackwood town centre is now much quieter than adjacent towns in Gwent."

He added: "As far as policing goes, we welcome further developments if they provide economic prosperity in the town and don't become an attraction for people to commit crime and disorder."

A spokeswoman for KFC said the company wanted to reassure residents that it had already taken steps to address the issue - including plans for a gate across the car park to prevent access when the restaurant is closed and speed bumps in the car park.