A CLAYTON-le-Moors landlord has been granted an entertainment licence despite strong opposition from nearby residents who complained their sleep would be disturbed.

But Raymond Duberry, of the Lamb Inn, Whalley Road, appealed to residents during a meeting of Hyndburn Council's Judicial Committee not to tar him with the same brush as they had previous licensees.

Mr Duberry, who has been licensee at the Lamb Inn since February, applied for the licence so he could have weekend entertainment, including karaoke at the premises.

Residents in the area strongly objected to the pub being granted the licence saying their sleep and peace was continually disturbed by loud music and the "Anglo-Saxon" language of revellers leaving the premises in the early hours.

But Mr Duberry said: "This pub has had four landlords in the last 14 months but I have tried my utmost to meet all the criteria that I have been given.

"The pub has been sound-proofed and music will not be going on that late.

"This pub has been granted an entertainment licence before and these residents were complaining about noise before I had taken up the licence. I am not the last four licensees."

The application was first heard on June 4 but was deferred pending a report into the extent of sound insulation works carried out by Mr Duberry at the premises.

An assessment of the capacity of the existing ventilation system was also carried out because of concerns there may not be enough fresh air in the pub after it was ordered to keep doors and windows closed to stop noise escaping.

In granting the application members of the Judicial Committee said they hoped Mr Duberry would become a "good and responsible" landlord.

They also warned Mr Duberry that if problems the Lamb Inn has encountered under previous licensees were repeated then the necessary action would be taken.

Since the last entertainment licence was granted in April, 2003, the pub has been the subject of no less than 10 official complaints from residents and no less then three complaints of illegal karaoke.

Jim Folley, a resident of New Church Close, said: "Under previous landlords we had to put up with loud music going on until three or four o'clock in the morning plus the rowdiness and Anglo-Saxon language."