A PUB has been granted an entertainment licence after 179 people signed a petition in favour of the move.

Katy and Jamie Pearson, of the Lord Nelson in Thirsk, will now be able to host live bands. They have proposed to hold acoustic sessions on Sunday afternoons and host a live band once a fortnight.

People living near the pub complained there would be noise, fights and unruly behaviour.

One householder, Barry Ogleby, said: "I have seen over the past seven years events held in those premises, and people come out of the pub and run amok.

"There are fights outside, they throw bottles about and go behind the church for sex.

"They kick cars and wheelie bins and jump on car roofs."

Hambleton District Council granted the licence on the condition that sound-proofing measures are installed and no more than 26 acts perform a year.

Mrs Pearson said: "We are trying to run a business which has been failing in recent years. The idea is not to have really loud music all the time.