DISCUSSIONS are continuing in a bid to see the creation of a permanent memorial to a popular Haddington businessman.

Calum Learmonth, Knox Academy’s head pupil, has been working for the last couple of months to create a memorial for Dino Pacitti, who ran Dino’s takeaway.

Originally, in October, the teenager suggested a plaque being added to a bench opposite the business, on the town’s High Street.

However, that fell through when East Lothian Council removed the bench, on the opposite side of the street, near the George Hotel, due to concerns of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Calum was at the town community council’s final meeting of 2016 earlier this month and gave members an update on his plans.

He had suggested a plaque on the wall outside the takeaway, but added: “We had an issue getting it on the wall because it is a historic building.

“I’m still negotiating with Stuart Pryde [at East Lothian Council]. Obviously it is something that I want to get done.”

The suggestion of a memorial has been backed by Dino’s son, Tino, who worked alongside his dad.

Dino died suddenly in August, just days after returning from a holiday in his native Italy.

Hundreds of members of the public gathered on the street a few days later, with town residents joined by about 150 bikers to pay their respects.

The memorial saw a huge turnout, with Tino joined by his sister, Domenica, and mum, Angela, outside the takeaway, where his dad had worked since 1989.

The bikers did a lap of honour in Haddington town centre in memory of Dino, who died of cardiomegaly – an abnormal enlargement of the heart.