AN MP, a senior university academic and a student union official will be among the speakers at an appeal against a lap dancing club.

The hearing against the granting of a premises licence for The Loft, North Road, Durham City, will be held at the city's Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Friday and Monday, December 6, 7 and 10.

City residents Kirsty Thomas and Ann and Desmond Evans lodged an appeal against the decision by Durham City Council's licensing panel to give Vimac Leisure a licence for the club.

The company is also appealing against some of the conditions imposed by the panel, such as limiting nude dancing to three nights a week and banning advertising.

Both appeals will be held together, a preliminary hearing was told yesterday.

Miss Thomas told the court that her witnesses would include the city's Labour MP, Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods, Dr Gillian Boughton, the vice-principal of St Mary's College, and Emma Carter, of Durham Student Union's welfare committee.

Craig McAdam, for Vimac, told the bench that he would call only one witness for the firm's appeal, managing director Jason Greenwood.

Opponents said the club was inappropriate for a small city, could lead to late-night trouble and disorder at weekends and could make women feel uncomfortable about walking in North Road, where the city's bus station is located.