A REAL ale pub chain is facing police opposition in its bid to open in Chester-le-Street.

J D Wetherspoon wants to build a new pub for about £1.1m on the site of a former car showroom at the southern end of Front Street that will also be the home of a planned Chicago Rock Caf.

The company is expanding rapidly in the North-East with hostelries due to open in the near future in Consett and Durham and plans for a further outlet at Peterlee.

Its pubs are known for their no-music, no TV screens policy, food, wide range of real ales and competitive drinks prices.

But police are opposing the company's bid for a drinks licence, which will be considered by the North Durham Licensing Committee this month.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "We are not objecting to the Chicago Rock Caf. But we are objecting to Wetherspoons because of fears that the granting of a licence will lead to an increase in public disorder and increase the risk of anti-social behaviour and nuisance to local residents.

"We also feel it will add to the fear of crime and place increased demand on police resources.''

Company spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "If the police or anyone else has objections they will be heard in court and it will be for magistrates to decide.

"We have a number of pubs in the region and they are extremely successful. They are well run and well staffed and have CCTV. We have a good reputation for the way our pubs are run.''

Police have welcomed bids by some pubs, including Chicago Rock Caf, to stay open beyond the usual 11pm, saying staggered closing times would help tone down the amount of violence in the town centre.

Wetherspoons recently won a licence for the former Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society office in Durham's North Road.

It proposed conditions to the licence to meet concerns by the City of Durham Trust, which originally opposed the licence but withdrew its objection.

These included not applying for longer hours or a public entertainment licence and serving food up to 10pm.