THE owners of Oxford's last independent music venue – which needs to raise £80,000 by next month – have applied for vital planning permission.

The Cellar, in Frewin Court, has been a key live music venue in the city for more than 45 years.

But in June it was told by county council inspectors that its 70cm fire escape was too narrow and ordered it to cut its capacity from 150 people to 60.

READ: Stars line up to back the bid to save The Cellar

It is set to close on December 3 unless it can raise money to widen the exit and make up for lost earnings.

Now planning documents on the city council's website show architects' designs for the new doors believe them to be 'wholly appropriate'.

The doors would not be visible from nearby Cornmarket Street.