CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend the hours of a takeaway in Durham City have been approved - but not for as long as the owners would have liked.

Members of Durham County Council’s licensing committee were told, there had been four letters of objection to the application by Urban Oven at 94 Claypath, Durham City.

But a petition carrying around 800 signatures supporting the bid had been submitted, including from 23 students living in accommodation above the premises.

Brothers Sadeck and Javed Amin had applied for permission to sell food until 3am from Monday to Saturday and until 1am on Sunday.

The committee agreed to allow the takeaway to serve customers from 11am to 11.30am (and close by midnight) on from Sunday to Wednesday and from 11am to 2pm (and close by 2.30am) from Thursday to Saturday.

Sadeck Amin, whose family also own the nearby Rajpoot curryhouse nearby, said: "I appreciate the committee tried to please as many parties as possible.

"But peak time is from 2am to 3am, so I still feel I am at a competitive disadvantage.

"If I am closed customers have no choice but to go to my competition."

Objector Frank Newton, vice chairman of St Nicholas’ Community Forum claimed the opening of the takeaway had exacerbated Claypath’s rubbish problem and mess problems and that prolonging what he called the city’s drinking culture would only make things worse.

But barrister Ros Scott Bell, representing the family at the meeting, said there was a demand and students in area were keen to have the hours extended.

She said, clubs in area opened to 2.30am - and there were other takeaway restaurants on Claypath who traded up to 3am.

Mrs Scott Bell (correct) said Mr Amin had agreed with the conditions suggested by the police - to place a litter bin outside the front of the takeaway and to do a litter sweep and to wash the pavement outside the premises on a daily basis.

Committee chairman Councillor Colin Carr said: "We will be asking our planning enforcement to look at the opening hours of the other premises referred to."