HUNDREDS of people are campaigning to stop a convenience store selling booze.

Costsavers, in Brunshaw Road, has applied to Burnley Council for an alcohol licence and the licensing committee will make a decision on Wednesday.

But residents say customers stopping on a busy main road will cause traffic chaos and problems with under-age drinkers will escalate.

Two petitions with nearly 600 signatures and dozens of letters have been sent to the council.

But today the shop's owner defended the application, which states CCTV cameras will be installed, ID checks will be carried out on anyone looking under 21 and anyone congregating outside made to move on.

Mubashar Hussain Sarwar said: "The objections are just saying it's a busy main road but ten other shops in Burnley are in the same situation. The majority of customers won't be coming in cars.

"There has never been a problem before. They can't say there's a nuisance around here as the shop has never sold alcohol. Problems in the area are from other shops.

"There is a demand. We don't have the evening trade and rather than people walking down the road they want everything under one roof."

But angry residents, who say there are already enough off-licences in the area, claim there have already been accidents caused by cars parking outside the shop.

And they are fed-up with drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour and vandalism they fear that will rise if the request is granted.

In a letter to the council, Fulledge Action Community Team chairman Margaret Nelson said: "This store is on a dangerous corner on a steep hill in a built-up area and police records confirm several accidents in the immediate vicinity.

"Fulledge is plagued with anti-social behaviour and has been one of the hot spots identified by police, so much so that the police have continued to operate Operation Summer Nights patrols beyond the August Bank Holiday deadline."

Brunshaw Estate Management Board has also objected saying police are called every weekend to youths harassing elderly tenants and allowing alcohol to be sold will attract more disturbance.

Other residents have complained of gangs of youths congregating in the area and hassling people to buy them booze.

One resident has even submitted a diary and photographs of vehicles parking on double yellow lines outside the shop.