OPPOSITION is growing to plans by a Northallerton pub to extend its opening hours.

Gary Newson, licensee of The Durham Ox, in the High Street, wants the pub to stay open until midnight from Thursdays to Sundays. But his application to Hambleton District Council for a variation in the public entertainments licence has brought objections from residents and police.

North Yorkshire Police said that in the past three years there had been reports of underage drinking and drug use on the premises, and one drug-related assault.

A police spokesman said: "The granting of a public entertainments licence will only increase the incidence of these types of incident, particularly those related to drug use and underage drinking."

Residents said longer opening hours would make the noise problems even worse.

Stuart Brown, of Romanby Road, said: "On a weekend, noise can become unbearable, with loud music and rowdy customers disturbing local residents. Any extension to the opening hours will only add to the misery caused."

However, Mr Newson said the application was in response to public demand and much of the noise did not come from his premises.

"I get a lot of people saying that there is nowhere else to go after 11pm, apart from the local club," he said. "This application is to give them somewhere to go after hours.

"As far as I know, I have had no underage drinking and no problems with drugs.

"Personally, I do not believe all the noise is coming from this pub. It is people walking home from other establishments."

The council's licensing committee will consider the application next Monday.