PUB landlords in Weymouth have won their appeal to get their public entertainment licence back.

Howard and Antonia Samways, licensees of the George Inn on Custom House Quay, feared they would lose valuable business if the original decision was upheld.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council prosecuted them in July for five breaches of the Environmental Protection Act.

Yesterday, the authority's licensing committee heard a renewal application from the couple, who denied they had caused nuisance noise to neighbours.

Councillors heard that the complaints came from one neighbour, Stephen Mold of Helen Lane, who claimed the volume of noise from the pub was affecting his family's health.

But there have been no more complaints since Mr Mold moved house and left no contact details.

Mrs Samways said: "We have not had a single complaint for three months and the work will be totally completed next week.

"It has cost us a lot of money to have sound-proofing done and it would seriously affect our trade if we lost our licence.

"All the other pubs provide live music to attract people to their premises - without a licence we could not compete.

"We have been trying our hardest but because the building is owned by the brewery we had to wait for their contractors to carry out the work, which took longer than we thought."

Mr Samways said he ran the oldest pub in Melcombe Regis and added: "We do not set a foot wrong with our neighbours, we speak to them each week and everyone is happy with the level of sound. We have bent over backwards to comply with regulations - Mold is the only blemish on our record.

"We will stop the music at 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays."

Principal environmental health officer Jane Light said officers were unable to carry out their duties in the George because they were intimidated by abuse from patrons.

Mrs Samways claimed the band had packed up and left in disgust that night, and her husband said it was a matter of opinion.

Chairman Michael Goodman said: "We will allow you to renew your licence but for a limited period of six months, in order for you to obtain a report saying the noise levels are not likely to cause further statutory nuisance.

"And there must be no more complaints made - neighbours should live peacefully next door to each other."