FURIOUS villagers have successfully blocked a bid by a popular York student pub to open its doors later into the night.

Heslington residents argued that a move by bosses at the Charles XII to open until after midnight would have inflamed their already-troubled relationship.

They claimed that customers of the busy Main Street hostelry were blighting their neighbourhood with noise, nuisance, litter and vandalism.

Licensing councillors agreed that it would cause more disruption and turned down the application by landlord David Pike. It means the Mitchells and Butlers pub is the first in the city to fail to get a late licence in the current rush to take advantage of new rules which come into force in November.

Speaking after the decision, parish council chairman Richard Frost said: "It just goes to show that democracy works. We're absolutely delighted that the council listened to us."

Resident Dr Jeffrey Stern said: "It's a great weight off our shoulders. It means people can sleep at night and continue living their lives without fear of noise from pub customers."

Solicitor Michael Ryans, who represented the pub, said his client would now consider appealing to city magistrates. A bid to open until 12.30am seven days a week led to 57 formal objections, representing 72 individuals, to the local authority.

Pub bosses reduced the extra hours bid to only Thursday, Friday and Saturday at yesterday's Guildhall meeting, but residents still claimed that any extension was unacceptable.

They complained about noise from late-night drinkers heading home, loud music from the beer garden, the movement of metal barrels and the emptying of glass bins early in the morning.

Debbie Metcalfe, of the council's environmental protection unit, said the pub had been investigated seven times since 2000 for a number of noise nuisance complaints. She said a formal warning notice had been served on the business about music in the beer garden after informal approaches "didn't work".

Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, Heslington ward councillor, said: "If they are unable to prevent noise now, it's not clear how additional hours will stop it happening later into the night."

The nearby Deramore Arms pub has also applied to open until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No decision has yet been made.

Bill McClean, honorary secretary of Heslington Village Trust, said: "These students are trainee drinkers with no ability or wish to control their inebriation. It's all part of the sport."

Dr Jeffrey Stern, of Little Hall, Heslington, said: "We live nearly opposite and the noise and disturbance from drinkers leaving at 11.15pm every night is considerable."

Coun Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, who represents Heslington ward, said: "The amount of concern this application has generated has taken me by surprise. It has tapped into deep-seated concerns".

Richard Frost, chairman of Heslington Parish Council, said: "I believe that the renegotiation of the hours is not the way forward for the prevention of noise and nuisance"

Updated: 09:43 Tuesday, July 05, 2005