YORK City FC have been granted an extended alcohol licence for a range of special farewell events when they leave Bootham Crescent next year.

A City of York Council licensing hearing on Monday gave the go-ahead to the club's application to serve alcohol to be consumed throughout the ground at certain events, and to play recorded and live music from 10am to midnight, seven days a week.

The club, which has been at Bootham Crescent for 83 years, said it was making the application only to allow York City Knights rugby league fans to drink in the stands, as they are generally allowed across the sport. Football fans will not be permitted to drink in the stands.

It is also planning "a maximum" of four farewell events to mark the club finally leaving Bootham Crescent, which is expected to fall in the 2016/17 season.

Chris Tock, the operations and safety manager at York City, said about the application: "It's not so we can have 365 events a year. We would be looking at having four events as a maximum, one being a family fun day and one a corporate dinner."

Addressing neighbours who had expressed concerns, Mr Tock said there were no plans to hold boxing or wrestling at the venue as the application suggested. Responding to concerns the ground could host pop concerts, he said: "I certainly don't imagine U2 will be wanting to play Bootham Crescent."

The council had received letters from neighbours expressing concerns.

Speaking at the meeting, neighbour Bill Rawcliffe, said he felt local people had not bee sufficiently consulted or informed of the plans and he could not understand the need for a seven day licensing application.

He said: "The live music does concern me. There's no benefit to the local community to have these events happening."

The council gave the go-ahead to the application under a series of conditions. Chair of the hearing Cllr Ian Gillies emphasised alcohol must not be taken off the premises