A LANDLORD has been granted a late-night entertainment licence after an appeal hearing.

Last November, six pub landlords in Crook applied for extended entertainment licences to try to stop the drift of people to pubs in other towns.

All the applications were rejected by Wear Valley District Council.

But Richard Chwieseni, landlord of Bar 56 and The Circuit, in Hope Street, appealed against the decision and yesterday he was granted a licence at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.

In a move that could set a precedent for the town's other pubs, Mr Chwieseni's bar can stay open until 12.30am for a 12-month trial period, after a sound consultant is employed to explore ways of reducing noise from the pub.

Witnesses were called by both sides at yesterday's appeal hearing.

Sarah Robinson, representing Mr Chwieseni, questioning Jim Nutt, from Wear Valley District Council, said the police had not opposed the licence extensions and only 17 objections had been voiced.

Mr Nutt told the court that the council felt the main problem was antisocial behaviour by drinkers on residential streets at weekends.

Council environmental health officer Craig Rudman, who surveyed noise levels in the town centre last year, told the court noise levels were highest at midnight on Fridays and said even with soundproofing at the pub, there would be disturbance.

Cathy Prest, for Wear Valley District Council, called Crook resident Calvin Skinner, who represented the objectors, as a witness.

He told of the damage caused by weekend revellers, saying car wing mirrors were regularly vandalised, broken glass was left in gutters and he had once found human excrement in his back yard.

He said: "On numerous, numerous occasions I've seen people urinating in the street. I know of one elderly resident who says it has even happened through people's letter boxes."

He agreed he could not say these problems stemmed exclusively from customers of Bar 56 and the Circuit.

After magistrates ruled in favour of Mr Chwieseni's application, he said he was delighted by the decision.

"It is a step forward for Crook, as the town has been left in the dark ages where licensing is concerned. This is a brave move for the magistrates," he said.

"Hopefully, if we can get the consultant in fairly quickly, we can be up and running within one month."