BRIDGWATER'S Dominos Pizza branch in Eastover will be allowed to open until 3am, despite residents' concerns that it could exacerbate anti-social behaviour in the area.

The matter went before Sedgemoor District's Council's licensing panel where Walaiti Rathore, representing the takeaway giant, said Dominos was a global brand that had invested significantly in the Bridgwater premises.

He also said similar applications had been granted elsewhere in the country, and that there was little evidence to support the police's objection.

Mr Rathore said the police's request for door staff was not justified as not all late night refreshment premises in the town were required to have door staff.

Mr Rathore described the police's representations, which said anti-social behaviour would increase in the area were the license granted, were 'speculative at best'.

Speaking on behalf of the police, Sgt Ryan Edwards said: "I accept that that requirement for door staff is aspirational for police but it would help us concentrate our limited resources on the west side of the town near the main night time economy rather than split them."

Speaking on behalf of Sedgemoor District Council's environmental health, Nicola Gardner, said there were concerns for the potential impact on residents.

She said it was reasonable to assume the 40 residential properties would be affected by the application, and that the main cause of complaints was likely to be noise from customers and home delivery drivers, as well as litter and light pollution.

The panel concluded the police and environmental health representations lacked evidence and detail in support of conditions required on the license.

The panel concluded it was impossible to know at this stage what impact a late license may have in the Eastover area.

Dominos was granted to permission to extend its opening hours from closing at midnight to closing at 3am instead.