THE chairman of a pub licensing committee has criticised a Guisborough landlady for a mix-up which led to a coach load of people travelling unnecessarily to the hearing.

Protesters to plans by the Buck inn to remain open until 1am at weekends travelled to Eston by coach expecting to hear a full discussion.

It was only when a pub representative failed to appear that licensing officers telephoned to find what was happening, to be told the pub had withdrawn its application.

The landlady, Mrs Alison Round, has since apologised and said the incident occurred through a legal mix-up.

Speaking on Wednesday, Coun Brenda Forster, chairman of Redcar and Cleveland licensing committee, accused the licensee of being bad mannered. "I am very disappointed that the applicant did not inform the committee beforehand," she said.

A large number of disgruntled residents, some of them elderly, had travelled to the council headquarters to hear the committee debate.

Mrs Round, the Buck inn licensee, said she was told by her solicitor only on Tuesday evening that the application was to be adjourned until further notice.

She still intends to go ahead with the application for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

"We have got a petition with 500 signatures from people who want a late licence," she said.

"We are not planning to have loud music, but background music. I have got three kids upstairs, so I don't want loud music. I do apologise to the people who went to the town hall, but I only found out on Tuesday that my solicitor was going to withdraw."

East Cleveland MP Dr Ashok Kumar also slated the pub for its alleged discourtesy.

Townspeople and the police have objected fearing an extended opening time would escalate loutish behaviour already seen on the streets.