COUNCILLORS plan to visit a pub before deciding whether to call time on its plan for outside seating.

Scottish and Newcastle Breweries wants to put seats and tables outside the Market Tavern in Durham's Market Place.

But the city's police are objecting to the plan because it could create the 'wrong ambience' and Durham City Council is also worried that it could cause bottlenecks on market days when the area is full of people.

Durham County Council's Highways Committee has decided to visit the Market Place on a market day to see how the plan could affect flows of pedestrians.

Although other bars and restaurants have pavement seating, police are concerned about the plan.

A spokesman said: "The sight of people drinking in the street, even if they are sitting at tables, is not conducive to the nature of the city centre and gives the wrong impression."

He added that the Market Tavern 'is not a restaurant but a public house whose main business is the sale of alcoholic drinks.'

The city council hopes to improve the Market Place and is worried in case the outdoor seating compromises its vision for the future.

It is particularly concerned that the seating might restrict the passage of people in front of the pub on market days.