A "FAST track" drinking culture could be beaten by more flexible licensing hours, a leading councillor claimed this week.

Speaking out in favour of longer opening hours, Coun Dave McLuckie said this could be one way to cut drunkenness and street trouble.

He backed a bid by a Guisborough bar to stay open until 1am on certain nights.

The move by Coun McLuckie - Redcar and Cleveland's lead councillor for community safety - comes as the bar, Bakers, waits for a hearing on a public entertainment licence application.

The bar has already won an appeal against the council's rejection of its 1am closing.

But customers will not be able to drink, dance or listen to music until that time unless the entertainment and a subsequent special hours licence are granted.

Coun McLuckie said the present system of pubs turning out at the same time was a mistake.

"The streets are full of people who have had a lot to drink and that can fuel disorder," he said. "All hell can break loose when people are kicked out of pubs."

He said if he had been on the council committee which originally considered the Bakers' case, he would have been in favour of the late opening.

"Guisborough suffers from anti-social behaviour mainly because there is nowhere for people to go," he said. "Everyone piles on to the high street at the same time and there is a scramble for the same taxis, buses and pizza shops.

"Towns such as Guisborough need to keep young people in the area but we are driving them away to spend their cash elsewhere."

Coun McLuckie was referring to the fact that Bakers has been bussing people to nightspots in Middlesbrough and Teesside Park after the present 11pm closing time - bringing revellers back to Guisborough at 2.45.

"Where laws are more relaxed trouble has been cut because people don't have to quaff three hours' worth of alcohol all at once," he said.

"We have one of the worst cultures for drink and violence in the world and I put that down to the Draconian licensing system."

Coun McLuckie praised the appeal inspector for overturning the refusal and suggesting a nine-month trial period for 1am closing at Bakers.

But police have indicated they will object to the public entertainment licence application when it comes before the council on March 21.

"We need this trial run in Guisborough," Coun McLuckie said. "We have created a fast-track drinking culture and it is that which causes trouble.

"In Europe they have more relaxed licensing laws and less drink-related incidents. They are getting it right and we are getting it wrong."

Coun McLuckie's views were echoed by the solicitor acting for Bakers owner, Mr Sean Wilson.

Mr Clive Harvard of Richard Hall and Partners said: "If we could have some premises turning out at later times in theory that would be a big help.

"I am disappointed in the police attitude in not even being prepared to give the Bakers' scheme a fair trial."

After the council considers the public entertainment licence application on March 21, magistrates will hear the case for a special hours licence on April 24