Traders who feared financial ruin are looking at a much rosier future: their shopping arcade has been saved from demolition.

Businesses in The Arcade, High Street, Uxbridge, were bracing themselves after JD Wetherspoon applied to build a new 'superpub' there.

Hillindon Councillors threw the application out in April, but before the shopkeepers could celebrate, Wether-spoon appealed the decision and an independent planning inspector was to begin hearing the case on December 2.

Now jubilant shopkeepers have just been told Wetherspoon is pulling out and ending its interest in the site - and the landlord is willing to offer everyone a new, 25 year extension to their lease.

Traders say they will sort out all the Arcade's bad points and set about transforming it into a centre shoppers deserve.

Ahmet Yenicikan, owner of Granny Satchwill's café, said: "This has been hanging over us for about three years and we are just so relieved it is all over.

"The matter of extending the leases is in the hands of the legal people and we hope to have signed and sealed everything very soon."

The traders are clubbing together with the landlord, George White, to pay to repair the leaking roof.

Soon to follow will be a new floor, better lighting, some plants and shrubs and anything else to brighten the place up.

Mr Yenicikan has also purchased the vacant pet shop next to his café and is planning to open it again in December because of high demand for its services and products.

He said: "We want to thank every one of the 2,000 plus people who signed the petition in our support.

"They helped us and now we want to repay them with an Arcade to be proud of."