A NIGHTCLUB in a rural village is host to underage drinking and the cause of anti-social behaviour, a court has heard.

Whispers nightspot, in Liverton Mines, east Cleveland, could lose its late licence after residents voiced their concerns.

Last week, magistrates heard how youths are regularly seen drinking illegally in the club and have been found unconscious in the street after closing time.

The court heard that police have been "stretched to the limit" when Whispers is open late on a Friday and Saturday night, and an application to revoke the late licence was launched on Friday.

Marie Nevison, prosecuting, told Guisborough magistrates how late-night revellers have caused so much disruption that some elderly residents were considering moving from the area.

Police applied to revoke the late licence, held by Sharon Bickerdyke and her husband, Andrew.

Inspector Kevin Scott, of Cleveland Police, told how officers patrolled bus routes to curb disorder.

He said: "The problem on the Arriva bus route was so bad that the company were looking to removing the service.

"To stop other residents being victimised by that, I put officers on that bus from Loftus to Liverton.

"I was hoping it would send out a message, but things have escalated again.

"I had to take officers away from fighting crime to ensure a bus could travel half a mile."

The hearing continues today.