A PUB'S attempt to stay open into the early hours is facing opposition from residents and a conservation group.

The owners of the 700-capacity Walkabout Australian theme bar, in Durham's North Road, want to extend its entertainment licence from 1am to 2am Mondays to Saturdays.

They also want to open until 12.30am on Sundays and until 2am on Sundays before bank holidays.

The Regent Inns-owned venue, in the former Robins Cinema, won its entertainment and drinks licences at appeal despite opposition from residents and police concerned about disorder and noise in North Road, which has two nightclubs and other pubs.

The City of Durham Trust is concerned the extension will bring Walkabout into line with the closing time of the two neighbouring clubs, which are increasing capacity.

Chairman Roger Cornwell said the company "made great play" of the original 1am closing time, between normal pub closing and the 2am finish of the nightclubs.

He said: "The principal concern was that if both Walkabout and the nightclubs closed at 2am, then there could be nearly 1,200 people emerging on to the North Road at that time, on those occasions when the premises were all full to capacity.

"The council has recently granted revised entertainment licences to the North Road nightclubs, considerably increasing their capacity.

"Should this Walkabout application be granted, there is nothing to stop there being around 1,500 people emerging on to North Road at 2am."

He said there would be some nights when the premises would be busy later than usual, and said that was when problems on the streets at closing time would be most likely. He said it would be premature to allow the application until the impact of the clubs' expansion was known.

Residents in the Crossgate area concerned about noise and disturbance caused by revellers heading home have sent a petition to the council.

Police said it was unlikely they would object to the application, which will be considered by Durham City Council next Thursday.

Bar manager Wade Butler said there would also be an application for a drinks licence. He said: "It seems there is a need for some later night entertainment."

He said the venue worked closely with police and had contributed to the community by installing security cameras, the Urilift toilet and employing someone to hail taxis for drinkers.