A TAKEAWAY to feed pizzas to revellers spilling out of a Durham club has won a late licence - but may need bouncers on the door.

The eaterie's new proprietor wants to take his business from clubbers leaving the Loft nightclub on North Road.

Durham County Council's licensing sub-committee heard of the application to serve "late-night refreshments".

At first Mohammed Shariff applied for a licence until 4am.

Durham Police objected to this, saying it could hold people in the city longer and affect crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

The force withdrew its objection when the proposed closing time was reduced to 3am Monday to Saturday, 1.30am Sundays.

The City of Durham Parish Council maintained its objections.

Nicola Brown, representing the parish council, told the committee: "Two of the greatest irritations the residents have are noise and the public nuisance associated with licensed premises.

"The parish council are extremely concerned that a takeaway being able to continue up until 3am Monday to Saturday will be a severe disturbance to local residents.

"This is exceptionally important given the upper floor of this premises is a residential property."

David Wilson, representing Mr Shariff, told councillors the premises had not started trading yet.

When asked about the importance of the hours, he said: "There is a market there.

"We're sitting effectively next door to the nightclub and we wish to have their trade, frankly."

He said later licences were "the norm" in that area and residents living above the premises were "already effectively living above a Subway" with a fish and chip shop nearby.

He said: "There's the Wetherspoons pub across the road, there are taxis, there are already at least two takeaways with 3am licences.

"This is the nature of that particular location."

He said they would take last orders half an hour before closing.

He added front of house staff were being trained in "conflict management".

He told the meeting: "We recognise that the premises are in very close proximity to the nightclub, therefore people coming to the premises are likely to be intoxicated.

"So particular measures have been put in place in regard to that.

"We don't know what's going to happen. There is provision here that if there are issues that are beyond our control, this will be monitored.

"And if necessary we'll employ door supervisors.

"We're not saying we are going to employ door supervisors from day one, but we commit to monitoring the situation and if necessary that will be done in order to address crime and disorder and any public nuisance issues.

"We'll seek to manage customers waiting outside the premises, we'll provide a litter bin and we'll keep the area clear, clean and tidy.

"I would have hoped that would have been comprehensively addressing the issues that have been raised."

He said they committed to working with police, as well as using signage and incident logs.

Asked if he saw any difficulties managing customers' expectations, he replied: "Realistically, no.

"There may be difficulties, but they are matters that will have to be overcome by educating customers that we take last orders at 2.30.

"If there are issues as a result of this we may have to change what we do.

"We may have to engage door supervisors to manage this."

He said the parish council had presented no evidence to support their objection and there was no justification to refuse the licence.

The committee granted the licence from 11pm to 3am on Monday to Saturday and until 1.30am on Sundays.