A SENIOR police officer has warned he will be one of the first to complain if extended drinking hours take up extra police resources.

Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, the south area commander for Durham Police, said he would be monitoring the effects of new licensing hours very carefully.

Members of the Teesdale Police Community Consultative group expressed concern at their meeting this week about how extended drinking hours might affect police resources.

Peter Stubbs, a Teesdale district councillor, said: "My honest opinion is that the Government has just lost its way with the new licensing hours. At two o'clock in the morning, the abuse that police officers have to take is absolutely disgusting.

"This way, they are going to have more hours for drinking and its going to add fuel to the fire."

Ch Supt Banks said alcohol-related crime was one of the force's priorities and it was working on an alcohol strategy.

However, most landlords had not expressed much interest in the extended opening hours, because of staff costs.

He also said extended opening hours could reduce crime as drinkers would not be leaving venues at the same time.

"There are a number of powers coming forward, such as putting the costs back on to the premises themselves," he said.

"Rest assured that we will be monitoring the situation very carefully and if I start to find that we will be putting more officers out to police this, I'll be the one of the first to cry foul."