A pharmacy which has opened despite almost 2,000 protests is being probed to see if it has breached planning rules.

Plans to extend Strood’s Gun Lane Medical Centre and build a late-night pharmacy were rejected last year amid complaints by parents, a rival pharmacy, councillors and an MP.

Councillors said it was badly-located and inappropriate to have a needle exchange for drug addicts next to All Faiths primary school, which includes a deaf pupils’ unit.

However, the firm which runs the pharmacy has got round the ruling by opening up inside the existing surgery instead.

Madhu Mangal, who runs the nearby Bryant Road pharmacy and fears going out of business, said: “There was a lot of objection but they’ve gone ahead and opened anyway.

“The objections were because of fears for the deaf kids, not because of a building being extended.”

Medway Council confirmed its planning department is investigating the pharmacy, which opened about two weeks ago.

A spokesman said: “Medway Council is looking into this matter and are uanble to comment until the investigation is complete.”

Pharmacies inside surgeries only need planning permission if they stray from dispensing prescription drugs into selling other products, like high street pharmacies do.

If the council decides the Gun Lane pharmacy needs permission, there could be another battle with parents.

Ron Owttrim, the chief executive of South East Health which runs the pharmacy, said: “As far as we are concerned we have met all local planning regulations.

“We are unaware that the council are undertaking any further investigations and we are happy to work with the council to resolve any issues.”

He added his was a not-for-profit firm, saying: “We must say we are surprised at the controversy surrounding this pharmacy as it clearly improves the access to medication and provides and creates more local jobs.

“Our experience so far from patients using the pharmacy has been good and very positive.

“We of course would be happy to meet representatives from local residents and discuss and explain the advantages to having an extended opening time pharmacy.”