ELDERLY residents are hopping mad after losing a courtroom battle against plans to reopen one of Blackburn's oldest workingmen's clubs as a trendy bar.

A group of 12 residents from flats in St Michael's Court and Ambleside Close, Blackburn, attended a meeting of the town's licensing committee.

It was considering an application to sell alcohol at the former Cob Wall WMC, 40 yards away in Daisy Lane.

Today the protesters, many of whom are aged between 60 and 80 and live in sheltered housing, vowed to fight on.

They fear the plan would see a return of weekend noise, vandalism and traffic problems.

The club opened in the town at the beginning of last century but had to close after brewers Bass put it on the market last year.

Businessman Ken Nolan wants to turn the club into a venue for over-30s.

In the long term, he said, he intended to apply for a late licence for Fridays and Saturdays to provide live entertainment.

After being granted a licence at Blackburn magistrates court yesterday, he vowed to do all he could to help the residents.

But Marjorie Dickinson, of Ambleside Close, said: "Most of the noise is when they are leaving the club, waiting for taxis. That goes on until 1am.

"I live about 40 yards from the front door of the club. There were people swinging on the trees and breaking the branches off."

Another Ambleside resident Moira Fletcher said: "Our house is even closer and we had the concert room at our side.

"All the noise seemed to reverberate. Even if you were trying to watch television with the windows closed, you couldn't hear it for the noise coming from across the way.

"Another problem was all the drunks coming out. One week I had my fence broken every night."

After a residents' meeting Patricia Alker, of St Michael's Court, said: "The fight goes on. We are going to get in touch with the councillors that deal with the applications for entertainment licences. We are not going to let it drop."

Elizabeth Connaghan, 76, of St Michael's Court, said: "I'm dead against the late licence."

Elsie Bush, 67, of St Michael's Court, said: "The noise is the problem.Taxi drivers pipping their horns are very annoying.

"I'm not a killjoy but the late licence we have had before and I wouldn't like it again."

Mr Nolan said: "It strikes me that things like fencing and foliage to absorb the sound of the taxi doors would help.

"The last thing we want is the sort of experiences they have talked about -- that is abhorrent to me personally. We will do everything in our power to make sure it doesn't happen. "

Chairman of the five-man committee Roger Brickell said: "We believe the new venture will not be a replica of the old Cob Wall Club."