PROTESTORS last night vowed to continue objecting to a nightclub's extended opening hours, after it was given permission to open until 6am two nights a week.

Escapade, in Gladstone Street, Darlington, yesterday had its opening hours extended to 6am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3.30am from Sunday to Thursday, after police and environmental health officers withdrew their complaints.

A licensing sub-committee meeting of Darlington Borough Council approved the application, after last-minute talks between parties on Wednesday night saw them reach agreement.

But members warned the licence could be revoked if the move proves unacceptable.

Conditions were added to the original application, including measures to regulate the capacity in each of the venue's rooms, a suitable policy to disperse revellers after it closes, and that no drinks promotions conflict with police Pubwatch initiatives.

It was also agreed that alcohol would not be served after 3am from Sunday to Thursday, 30 minutes before closing time.

However, the decision met with a storm of protest.

Yvonne Richardson, chairman of the Friends of North Lodge Park group, said it would create havoc in the surrounding residential area.

"People who live near Escapade have always said they can't sleep on the front of their houses because of the noise," she said.

"This will be even more of a nuisance, this decision really isn't on, they have to remember this is a residential area.

"It's a really inappropriate place to have a nightclub anyway. We are really worried about all the drunks getting into the park, and the damage they could do.

"A lot of people round here don't have gardens and use the park a lot. Will they be confronted with drunks when they go out early in the morning to walk their dogs or take children to school?"

Nigel Nevison, vice-chairman of the Darlington Independent Taxi Traders' Organisation, said he too was dissatisfied, and called for the decision to be regularly reviewed.

"My feelings are for the people who live in the surrounding area, and what they must have to put up with living next to a club that operates into the early hours of the morning," he said.

"What should happen is they should leaflet homes in the nearby area, where they suffer most, and then they can properly review the decision."