A TABLE dancing club in the shadow of Durham Cathedral has won permission from councillors - but dancing is limited to three nights a week.

Liberal Democrat-controlled Durham City Council's licensing committee approved the premises licence for the Loft, in North Road, despite receiving 50 objections, including one from the police who say the club could impact on crime and disorder.

Vimac Leisure originally wanted a licence to provide "regulated entertainment" every day of the week, between 11am and 2.30pm, but offered yesterday to operate only in the evenings.

The committee granted the application, but imposed a number of conditions including limiting lap, pole or table dancing to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The club can open the rest of the week, but without dancing.

City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, Durham School, the City of Durham Trust, councillors, residents and Durham University's St Mary's College and St Cuthbert's Society were among the objectors.

Durham Police licensing officer Sergeant Tim Robson said the club could be a threat to crime and disorder.

Although crime in North Road was falling because drinkers were now going to the Walkergate complex in Claypath, he said studies showed that women could feel at risk of sexual crimes from clubs featuring female nudity.

Paddy Whur, lawyer for South Tyneside firm Vimac, said the company was a reputable operator which worked well with the police and said there was no evidence of lap dancing causing an increase in sexual crimes.

"The firm will now study the committee's decision to see whether it will challenge the conditions," said Mr Whur.

Committee chairwoman Maureen Smith declined to comment on suggestions that the application was granted on her casting vote. She said if there were problems, she hoped residents would seek a review of its licence.

Chief Inspector Laz Szomoru said he was disappointed with the decision, but said officers would work with Vimac to ensure the club caused no problems.

He rejected claims that police had "double standards" because they objected to the Durham club, but not to the Red Velvet lap dancing club, which opened in Front Street, Consett, saying the applications were different.

Resident Daniel Keenan said: "Durham doesn't need this kind of entertainment, if it is entertainment. We'll have to see how it works out."