COUNCILLORS have allowed a town centre pub to stay open until 4am for a special event this weekend.

The Merry Monk in Bishop Auckland Market Place applied for a late licence for its 1980 and 90s night tonight, which coincides with the Bishop Auckland Celebrate Together weekend.

Premises user Christian Burns applied to Durham County Council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) so the pub can play DJ music and run a late bar serving alcohol until 4am on Sunday. The event has been advertised as a party from 8pm to late, with the pub already permitted to open until 1.30am.

The application was considered by the statutory licensing sub-committee sitting at Spennymoor on Thursday, after meeting opposition from Durham police.

Licensing sergeant, Caroline Dickenson, said the force was concerned the event could undermine the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.

It followed concerns over incidents in which the pub allegedly served alcohol after hours. On Monday, August 20 the council issued a warning about serving after hours and officers had to contact the licence holder to get CCTV after the applicant failed to cooperate.

The pub is also under investigation for a similar incident on or around September 9.

In the meeting, Mr Burns said he held his hands up to a single "mistake" and would take any punishment "like a man" but ran a good pub and had never had any problems in his 40 years in the industry.

He argued he had a good relationship with all his neighbours and had even hired extra door staff to make sure the peace was kept.

He said he is currently in the process of applying for a full licence.

The committee, which was chaired by Councillor Pauline Crathorne, approved the application.