OWNERS of a controversial club are celebrating after being granted a late drinks licence on appeal.

Oaklea Club will now be allowed to serve drinks until 12.30am after magistrates sitting in Burnley Crown Court overturned a decision made in January at Hyndburn.

PFH Leisure, which owns the club in Whalley Road, Accrington, had struck a deal with objectors living nearby that will enable them to have a say in issues surrounding the club.

Residents objecting to the licence had asked for a guarantee the club would not apply for an even later licence in the future. They also requested the back door be kept shut when the private club was open, a sound limiter was installed in the function room and that music should be finished by 12.15am.

Paul Humphries, managing director of PFH, said: "We agreed to the conditions and they withdrew their objections. I'm very pleased. We met the protesters after the meeting and are looking forward to working in partnership, starting with a residents meeting at the club next week.

"Everyone shook hands and it was all very amicable. We are pleased with the outcome and look forward to working in partnership with the residents for the good of the local community."

Peter Shaw, of Claremont Road, Accrington, was one of the three objectors who turned up for the hearing.

He said: "I think it was a common sense outcome. Hopefully everyone is happy about it now. We have agreed to move forward and meet up regularly to discuss any problems we might have, and hopefully we won't get into a confrontational situation again."

The company is part of Red Leisure, which has three other clubs, including one in Oswaldtwistle and one in Blackburn. "Our aim was to have five clubs in two years and we have got four in one year," said Mr Humphries.

It was not the first time the company had appealed against a decision. In November an application for an entertainments licence provoked controversy, with 92 people signing a support petition and 27 objecting.

That licence was refused but granted on appeal, and the company reported three councillors to the Standards Board of England.