An Airbnb operator who was told their flat was ‘too popular’ to qualify for automatic approval to continue has appealed to Scottish Ministers to intervene.

Montgomery Property Lets Ltd was refused a Certificate of Lawfulness to keep renting out the short term holiday home in Musselburgh in July by East Lothian planners.

But they are challenging the council over claims allowing families and workers to stay in the ground floor property in Kilwinning Terrace is any different to it being a permanent residential home.

And they say the property is benefiting the local economy by bringing people to the town.

In their appeal to Scottish Ministers, the applicants say: "My house functions as a residential property regardless of length of stay, planning should regulate land use not occupancy

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