RESIDENTS fear the peace and tranquillity of their village will be wrecked - if a pub secures permission to continue pulling pints into the early hours.

The Woodman pub, in Main Street, Bishopthorpe, York, has applied to keep serving alcohol until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and 1am during the rest of the week.

City of York Council licensing chiefs have received a number of objections from the local community who are concerned about the prospect of being kept awake by drinkers leaving the premises.

An elderly resident, who asked not be named, said the new licensing hours would be "awful".

"We can hear everything from the pub," she said.

"It will be even worse when the no-smoking law comes in because it has decking outside.

"It will change peoples' lives.

"If pubs want to stay open until 2am they should be away from residential areas."

Coun Brian Mellors, vice-chairman of Bishopthorpe Parish Council, said residents living close to the pub were concerned about the level of late-night noise.

"It's a residential area and people don't like to be disturbed at night," he said.

"What people say is that it's a quiet village and they don't see the need for the pub to open that late.

"It might start attracting people into the village from elsewhere."

Coun Mellors said The Marcia pub and village social club, in Main Street, had successfully applied for a later licence - but only until midnight.

"It (staying open until 2am) is too late and not required," he added.

The parish council has officially objected to the council about the application.

A council spokeswoman said officers had received 29 letters of objection from local people, who have until November 21 to make representations. She said because of the number of objections the matter will be subject to a licensing hearing next month.

The Woodman landlady Carol Temple said she would await the council's decision before commenting on the matter.