RESIDENTS have objected to a mini supermarket being granted a licence to sell alcohol.

Councillors will decide whether to give the shop on Gladstone Street, Darlington, next week.

The premises have been a mini supermarket in a residential area for a number of years, but last month an application to Darlington Borough Council was made for the new licence.

Durham Police, local residents, a park group and members of the nearby mosque have all objected to the application.

The police, who will make their representations at the council's licensing hearing, has objected on grounds of crime and disorder and protection of children.

Yvonne Richardson, from the Friends of North Park, has also written to the council because of problems which already exist in the park.

She said there was damage to trees and play equipment in the park, and that the crime figures for the ward were more than double the rest of the town.

A number of other residents have objected to the bid, as well as members of the mosque.

A spokesman for the mosque wrote: "We feel that as our religion omits alcohol, we feel the threat of people especially young people hanging around being drunk and a nuisance would offend us and others using the mosque and our religion."

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 3, at 9.30am.