TWO pubs will extend their opening hours despite objections from local residents.

Patrons at the Spice Ship at Preston and the Springhead in Sutton Poyntz will now be able to drink until 12.30am on Sundays and 1.30am every other night of the week.

Punch Taverns, which owns both pubs, also applied for entertainment licences, allowing two performers to play live music.

Residents raised their concerns at a meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's licensing committee yesterday.

One mother who lives near the Springhead said: "When there are crowds of people drinking outside we can't sleep until the noise stops. I don't see why my children shouldn't be allowed to get to sleep."

She added: "We also have elderly residents living nearby, one person recovering from heart disease and another person getting over cancer."

Residents from Tallidge Close raised concerns about the Spice Ship.

One said: "The pub's play area is too close to houses to be kept open till 1.30am.

"And we know people will stay in there till the absolute last minute."

Chairman of the licensing committee Michael Goodman responded by saying he hoped Punch Taverns have no desire to be a poor neighbour.

The committee granted both pubs an extension and entertainment licences with the conditions that all windows and doors must be closed by 11pm, there must be no unaccompanied under-16s in the outside areas after 11pm, and notices must go up asking patrons to respect the peace and quiet of residents.

The occupier of each pub must keep a record of complaints received and actions taken.

Following residents' pleas over noise levels at the Springhead Dominic Rowley, area manager for Punch Taverns, withdrew a request to open until 2am on bank holidays.

To reduce the noise from the pub the committee added the condition that a noise impact assessment should be conducted with a view to possibly sound proofing certain rooms.

After the meeting residents said they would need to discuss whether or not to lodge an appeal.

Simon Emblem, chairman of the Sutton Poyntz Society, said: "We are grateful the committee took our concerns seriously and we very much welcome the possibility of soundproofing. But we are very concerned the new licences mean the pub can have live entertainment every night of the week."