RESIDENTS are opposing plans to increase the number of people allowed into a Yarm nightspot.

The Keys, in the High Street, can accommodate 400 people, but a proposal has been submitted to increase capacity to 490.

Members of Stockton Borough Council's licensing committee will discuss the application at a meeting on Tuesday.

Residents of High Church Wynd have, in the past, complained of revellers having sex in the street, stealing hanging baskets and milk bottles, and urinating in entrance ways.

They said an increase in the number of people going to the club would make such anti-social behaviour problems even worse.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "This proposed further increase in capacity, if granted, will exacerbate the situation which already exists of revellers, when vacating the premises, walking down High Church Wynd where cars are parked and also in West Street, at 2am and 3am, disturbing residents.

"It provides a further strain to the parking, policing and environmental aspects of Yarm High Street, the surrounding roads and wynds."

His views were echoed by Betsy and Ian Easton.

In a letter to the council they said: "We already have a great deal of anti-social behaviour caused by the many people who come to drink in Yarm.

"There will be a further increase in late night traffic and noise, especially by taxis.

"Yarm now has an unenviable reputation for rowdiness and many respectable people choose not to come into Yarm on an evening."

Following concerns that the escape staircase at the nightclub was not wide enough to accommodate any extra customers, modification work has been carried out.

The council also recommended that two toilets would have to be built if more people were allowed to use the nightspot.

Alastair Powell, who is the owner of The Keys, has pledged to make the male toilet facilities on the ground floor available to the nightclub customers by creating an additional door from the club reception area into the existing toilets.

A report to be presented to the meeting said: "This proposal is acceptable, subject to robust controls being in place in respect of monitoring the movement of patrons between floors to ensure the maximum occupancy level is not exceeded."