A COMPROMISE has been reached allowing a town centre bar an hour extension three nights a week.

But GW Horners, in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, must take steps to curb noise and monitor customers.

The pub initially wanted to extend opening times to 1am from Monday to Saturday and to midnight on a Sunday.

An application to the district council for an extension to its public entertainment licence brought letters of opposition from four nearby residents.

They were angry about the level of late-night noise from licensed premises in the town, as well as the behaviour of some people making their way home from pubs and clubs.

Several letters and a 200-name petition in support of the application were sent to the council.

Horners amended the application seeking to remain open until 1am between Thursday and Saturday.

The public entertainment licence was granted last week for those hours, subject to several conditions, including the installation of air conditioning and a proviso to keep windows closed

Other conditions included the introduction of closed circuit television and no removal of empty bottles during unsociable hours.

Licensee Diane Smith appeared before North Durham licensing justices on Tuesday to apply for an extended drinks licence to comply with the new public entertainment licence restrictions.

She told the bench that the pub was known for good service and a lack of trouble.