BARS run by York University could win the right to open until the small hours - if licensing chiefs agree.

But the application for the university's many licensed venues to be able to open until 2am six days a week has sparked anger locally, and nearly 70 letters of objection have been sent to licensing chiefs by nearby residents.

Heslington villagers won a dual victory against late-night drinking earlier this year after an application by the Charles XII pub to open late was rejected, and a second by the nearby Deramore Arms was withdrawn after strong opposition.

The university has stressed that its bars would normally continue trading until 11pm as they do at the moment, and would only apply to stay open later by giving notice through the university's own commercial services department.

Currently late night events, whether for students or conferences, require a special extension - but this system will change under new licensing laws.

But locals still fear the application, if granted, could see their quality of life severely affected with students staggering home drunk until the small hours.

Dr Jeffrey Stern, who is vice-chairman of Heslington Village Trust, was one of many locals who wrote to complain about the proposals.

"People who live in Heslington don't mind students - they are not nimbyists," he said.

"There are quite a lot of elderly people. There are three sets of alms houses, and the university is not a pleasant neighbour sometimes.

"Most disturbance lasts for about 20 minutes. It happens almost every night. It's OK if it's at 11pm, but you can't put up with it at 1am or 2am."

Dr Stern representatives from the village would be asking for strict conditions to be put on any licence, saying it was not acceptable for the university's own commercial services department to govern when its bars would open late.

A university spokesman said: "The university takes very seriously the concerns of Heslington residents.

"We have given financial and institutional support to the Silent Student Happy Homes (SSHH) campaign. We have also formed a good neighbours group with Heslington Parish Council and other interested parties to address noise issues specifically.

"We have made it quite clear that the number of events will not change compared with what it is at present and we will guarantee that situation doesn't change.

"We will keep things as they are."

Licensing councillors are to debate the university's application on Friday.

Updated: 10:05 Wednesday, October 05, 2005