A SUPERMARKET is to be allowed to open for longer over Christmas -- despite objections from local residents.

Three letters opposing plans for Sainsbury's in Clitheroe were received by Ribble Valley Council's planning and development committee, which met last night.

The firm wants to extend its Sun Street store's opening hours from 8am-8pm to 6am-10pm from December 17 to 24 and open from 7am between December 26 and 31.

Development Control manager John Macholc told councillors the residents claimed it would lead to extra traffic and noise early in the morning. But the report to the committee stated that "the additional opening hours were only a modest extension for some days in December."

As a result, the report stated that the extra hours, which total at most an extra four hours a day, would not result in an unacceptable loss of amenity to neighbouring properties.

It added: "Furthermore, the extension of hours is still less than some of the adjacent and nearby properties such as the public house and Emporium."

The store will return to its regular hours in January 2002 "for the avoidance of doubt," the committee decided.