Rontec has won an extension of a drinks licence on one of its sites to 24 hours, despite opposition from local police.

The company’s Esso Town Hall Service Station at Crossgate, South Shields, is a 24-hour site and already had a licence to 2am, but applied to be allowed to sell alcohol round the clock.

In a report to the South Tyneside Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee, Ian Johnson, licence co-ordinator with Northumbria Police Southern Area Command, said: “Northumbria Police believes that this variation to the premises licence will lead to increased damage, assaults, litter, noise and disorder or the potential of such issues, in the town centre and local streets where there are already issues with crime and disorder.

“It will also encourage people who have left licensed premises that close in the early hours of the morning to migrate to the premises to continue their consumption of alcohol and remain in the streets in the area.”

However, the sub-committee approved the application on a trial basis until the end of May next year. Rontec will then have to reapply and demonstrate that the impact of extended hours has not had a detrimental impact on the local community.

Robert Botkai, of Winckworth Sherwood solicitors, who represented Rontec, said: “The police made representations that if the licence was granted there was a potential for disorder but there was no evidence to support that and the committee supported the compromise.”