A RADCLIFFE man fears a pub could become a nuisance neighbour and has enlisted the community in an attempt to thwart its plans.

James Hennessey lives across the road from the Ainsworth Arms pub on Bury and Bolton Road and is concerned that an application for an entertainment licence will cause problems for those living nearby.

"If an entertainment licence is granted this will mean more traffic, more noise, more litter and definitely will not be an asset to the local residents," said Mr Hennessey. He has delivered 90 letters asking local people to object and the 46 returned are all opposed to the licence.

Mr Hennessey said: "The application was placed in a Manchester newspaper, rather than a more local newspaper, which is why many people were not aware of it. I only found out when a friend told me."

Because few people knew about the application they did not lodge their opposition to Bury Council by the cut-off date, but Mr Hennessey is hoping that the letters of objection will still be taken into consideration by licensing chiefs.

But pub manager David Allcock has stressed that the licence is only being sought so that late functions, such as wedding anniversaries, can be held.

He said: "There are no plans for a nightclub of any description and I would be happy to talk to anybody with a problem concerning the application as I would like to explain it to them fully and reassure them."

Mr Allcock, who took over the management of the pub six months ago, added: "I have been in the trade since 1968 and would do nothing to jeopardise my licence."