A PETROL station has been given permission to sell alcohol 24-hours a day - despite representations from residents.

West Dorset District Council's licensing sub committee granted approval for the East Road service station and Esso garage and Spar shop to sell alcohol and late night night refreshments at all times.

At Friday's hearing, members of the sub-committee heard that no concerns had been raised by authorities such as Dorset Police and trading standards. The business was granted a 24-hour operating licence in September 2016.

Cllr Keith Day, chairman of the sub committee, said: "We have listened to and heard all the evidence presented to us and have concluded that the application to vary the premises licence should be allowed, subject to mandatory conditions.

"There have been no objections received from any or the responsible authorities, the authority had received no complaints from residents, the operator has assured the committee that any concerns reported to them will be dealt with immediately.

"The operator had informed local residents that they could raise concerns directly with them."

Earlier in the meeting, Robert Botkai, representing the applicant, Rontec Watford Limited, argued there was no evidence to justify rejecting the application.

He said: "If this store has a focus of disorder you would expect the police to have brought that to your attention and they haven't done so. The only issue we have been contacted about by residents is lighting and we believe that has been resolved.

"There have been no complaints to us about the selling of alcohol at the premises."

Six representations, which the council received, were read out at the committee meeting.

One letter said a 24-hour alcohol license would be "a magnet to the wrong people" and that there was "no justification" for the permission.

Another representation, claiming to be the adjacent neighbour, said: "We have been bothered in the road behind our property by noise from youths gathering around our cars and drinking late in the evening. They then dump the bottles and cans under our cars and along our wall.

"This is a residential area – it is not fair to expect us to put up with this."

Speaking at the meeting, district council licensing officer Kathryn Miller, said: "The variation is to add late night refreshment from 11pm until 5am and to extend the sale on retail of alcohol to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"There have been no complaints at all from any local residents while this licence has been in operation."