A pharmacist has won her battle to re-open a chemist's shop a year after she first put in her application.

Selma Harb has overcome red tape, opposition from big name rivals and a large financial outlay to relaunch the Roundway Pharmacy in Headington, thanks to the backing of local residents and Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

The Roundway Pharmacy had been operating for 35 years until it closed in April 2005 and Dr Harb had worked there occasionally as a locum pharmacist for a decade.

She decided she wanted to run the business herself and applied to the Thames Valley Primary Care Agency in Reading to obtain permission with a view to being up and running by October.

But after being referred to the Oxford Primary Care Trust, the application was not approved until January following objections from the branches of Boots and Alliance pharmacies in Headington.

The rival businesses then appealed, claiming there were enough pharmacies in the area.

Dr Harb said: "At this point I put in a petition at my local newsagents and in two weeks obtained 500 signatures from local residents supporting me.

"Andrew Smith also wrote letters on my behalf to the authorities saying how much there was a need for the pharmacy, which was very helpful."

The petition was also submitted as part of Dr Harb's case and eventually she was given the green light with the official opening taking place yesterday.

In the meantime Mrs Harb has spent £40,000 on buying the lease of the premises which is actually a few doors down from the original shop and been paying rent waiting for the authorities to come to a decision.

She added: "I have lost out financially and there has been the constant worry the whole thing was going to fall through.

"It was a gamble but I was prepared to take it because I knew I would win."

Mr Smith said: "The Roundway Pharmacy is far more accessible for residents in Risinghurst, Sandhills and Barton.

"This is a victory for the community and for small business."

No-one from Alliance or Boots was available for comment.