BUSINESS leaders are backing a pub chain's bid to extend its opening hours on Bank Holidays in a Dales market town.

JD Wetherspoon's was not universally welcomed when the company arrived in Richmond.

Landlords said that, in a town which could already boast one pub for every 75 people living within a half-mile radius of the town centre, converting the old post office on Queen's Road would be to create one too many.

However, the Ralph Fitz Randal has since allayed the fears of at least some of the sceptics and seems likely to face little resistance when planners consider its bid to stay open until 12.30am on bank holidays or any Sunday which precedes a Bank Holiday Monday.

"The Richmond Business and Tourism Association was not entirely happy when Wetherspoon's arrived but the company has since proved it can run a well-managed operation,'' said secretary Dr Mike Nicholls.

"Our members have agreed they won't be objecting to extended hours - at least as long as it is Wetherspoon's running the pub.''