Julie Lu Chen has been threatened with a £2,500 fine if she fails to remove signs from her Matlock Bath businesses by tomorrow.

And it comes in the wake of previous disputes at Maazi Restaurant and The Bee Tree in Matlock, where Derbyshire Dales District Council eventually backed down.

Mrs Lu Chen had two signs shipped from China for the Golden River Restaurant and Panda Cafe on South Parade.

But district council planners told her they were too big and colourful for a conservation area.

Mrs Lu Chen said: "Everything's wrong and I can't carry on like this. I'm just trying to make a living and employ people.

"They really are making it so difficult when I thought they would support businesses like mine."

After a series of failed attempts to negotiate, Mrs Lu Chen received a letter from the district council's solicitor giving her a week to remove the signs or face a £2,500 fine.

Mrs Lu Chen hoped to challenge the council, but was worried she would be fined if the signs were still up this weekend.

She said: "Lots of the other signs are much bigger and more colourful than mine. I've had no help at all.

"The council are just trying to give me trouble," she added.

Matlock Bath Parish Council had supported the plans when originally submitted.

Cllr Belinda Heaney said: "We were positive and thought they looked fine."

But in a letter to Mrs Lu Chen, head of planning Paul Wilson said the signs harmed the character of the building "due to the combination of their design, illumination, positioning, materials, lighting and finish".

Maazi owner Irfan Shabir said: "The most annoying thing is that there is no consistency in the decision-making.

"There are businesses that have called for gigantic signs like Sainsbury's and others. But some small businesses get hit.

"All we are trying to do is let our customers know what we are and what we stand for. It has an impact on your business."

No-one from the district council was available to comment about its policy on signs.