POLICE are backing residents over concerns that plans to increase opening hours at a Middlesbrough nightspot will lead to potential problems in the area.

Benson's Bar, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough has applied to Middlesbrough Council for permission to open Mondays to Wednesdays, from 9am to 1am; Thursdays to Saturdays, from 9am to 2am; Sundays, including Easter Sunday, from 9am to 12.30am; and Sundays preceding a bank holiday, from 9am to 2am.

Members of the council's licensing committee will discuss the proposals today.

However, they have received numerous objections from residents, Cleveland Police and Park Ward Community Council.

The main concerns centre on noise, disturbance and possible vandalism, but there are also fears that it will exacerbate problems with binge drinking.

Cleveland Police have objected on the grounds that an identical application was appealed and lost at Teesside Magistrates' Court last year, and they feel nothing has changed since then.

Marie Nevison, assistant legal advisor, said: "The premises are in a residential area and local residents have been plagued by noise.

"The premises are located outside of town and are requesting that the prem- ises open until 2am, from Thursday until Saturday.

"At 2am it is extremely difficult to obtain a taxi, leading to a potential increased risk in disorder and a noise nuisance from within the residential area."

In a letter to the meeting, Alyson Hogarth, from nearby Brompton Road, said: "I'm concerned that Middlesbrough has one of the country's worst reputations for binge drinking.

"We're much better than that and I think we should avoid doing anything such as extending drinking time, which will make either our reputation or the situation any worse."

Abdu Shaher, licensee of the bar, has met with residents in an effort to resolve any problems.

In a letter to the committee he said: "I would like to explore any problems residents face, whether these problems are directly related to our premises or in the wider context of persons travelling through the area on the way home from the town centre.

"If we work together to solve problems it will be to our mutual benefit."