THE 'Circ' will soon be back in action as a club after licensing magistrates at Reedley overturned Burnley Council's refusal to grant it a public entertainment licence.

The Circulation Club, in Holme Street, now has a licence to host entertainment in normal pub hours, between 11am and 11pm, every day.

Owner and property developer, Ray Harrison, hopes to fight on to get a special hours certificate, which would enable the club to open until 1am.

The council's licensing committee last month turned down Mr Harrison's application for a public entertainments licence after objections from local residents.

Mr Harrison, himself a regular at the Circulation during its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, said he and business partner, manager Gary Pollard, were delighted with the justices' decision on the appeal hearing, after what he described as "a long-hard battle with the authorities."

Mr Harrison, who has brought the Circ back to life after it was closed more than six years ago, continued: "This means the club can now play music, host entertainment and, most of all, dancing.

He said: "We would like to thank all the local people and licensees who have shown support in the past weeks and who have visited the club."

Mr Harrison, who has injected £100,000 into the Circ and wants it to be an up-market and trouble-free nightclub for the over 35s, stressed residents living near the club were its "top priority" and he wanted an amicable relationship with them.

The Circulation was the place to be seen in Burnley in the 1980s but got a reputation for trouble a few years after it opened..

The premises has been open as a pub for the last few weeks. Mr Harrison said: "The pub has been very busy at weekends. We never wanted it as a pub but it has proved that popular that, as a nightclub as well, we think it is going to do well."