STAFF at the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, have defended the Friday night discos following last week's lead story.

They say the discos are well behaved events attended by far less people now than they used to be.

But staff have renewed calls for greater police presence in the town, saying they can't be held responsible for the handful of misfits who make a noise when they leave the discos.

Theatre manager Peter Hammond says the theatre discos, which finish at 1.30am, have been going since the 1960s and have played host to crowds of nearly a thousand people when big names like Status Quo and Fleetwood Mac played at the then beat nights.

Mr Hammond said: "People who are now grandparents used to go to discos there and nothing has changed, but it is not our duty to escort people leaving the theatre through town."

Last week residents living in nearby Bay View Court called for the discos to finish earlier. They made their comments at a town council meeting.

Chris Douglas said he was concerned about a planning application that would almost double the theatre's capacity and lead to more noise and vandalism after a Friday night disco.

But Mr Hammond said usually in peak season a maximum of 100 people attend a Friday night disco. Numbers could be as low as 65 at other times.

He said that the extension would take capacity up to 350 people, not 400 as Mr Douglas had feared, and would make room for more people on the popular entertainment nights - such as the recent Beach Boys tribute band - and weddings.

Mr Hammond said the events were well managed by the theatre bouncers, who had been praised by the police for their door policy.

He said if anyone was drunk they were not allowed in to the discos and that there was a strict ID check on the bar.

But Mr Hammond said there was little the theatre could do if someone was in high spirits outside and that a little noise was to be expected.

He added: "These people (residents) should not buy these flats and then try to close the theatre." The next Marine Theatre disco is on August 22.

LATER drinking licenses in Bridport have put a strain on the already stretched resources of the police on duty at night, says section commander Inspector Alan Jenkins.

The Royal Oak pub in West Street Bridport stays open until 2am and DeVinchies nightclub in West Bay is now open until 3am, which means people are on the street in Bridport from 1.45am until after 4am.

Insp Jenkins said: "This does not mean that Bridport takes precedence over Lyme Regis. But it does mean that the patrol sergeant on duty has to prioritise resources in the best way he can on a particular evening."

Police vigorously opposed applications to make licensing hours later at both venues in Bridport but their objections were overruled.

But the inspector said he wanted to allay fears about policing levels in Lyme Regis throughout the night.

He said: "We have 24/7 police cover in Lyme Regis. Resources are scaled down across the entire section (Bridport section covers Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Beaminster and Bridport) in the small hours to reflect the level of demand put on us.

"On occasions the officer who is directly responsible for Lyme Regis will go off duty in the early morning. But he or she is replaced by an officer in Bridport, so there is always an officer who is ready to patrol Lyme or Charmouth."

Insp Jenkins said he had just completed a review of policing in Lyme and Charmouth and would be increasing police cover as and when he received the resources.

He has also set up a dedicated team of special constables which will focus primarily on Lyme Regis.

Insp Jenkins said on disco nights, an on duty officer and a number of special constables regularly paid attention to the Marine Theatre area after closing.