A WAREHAM pub has won a temporary reprieve from a six-week closure after it appealed against the decision of a council panel.

The Red Lion pub, North Street, came before the licensing panel last month after a string of complaints about noise and disturbance from neighbours.

When the council panel met it ordered a number of new conditions be added to the licence, including bringing forward last orders from 1am to midnight on Friday and Saturdays, more training for staff, doormen at certain times, and curbing the use of the outside patio area.

The pub was also ordered to close down for six weeks while the designated premises supervisor was removed and a replacement trained to take his place.

But licence holder Green King Retailing Ltd has appealed, so the pub will continue to operate as normal until the matter is resolved by a magistrate.

Licensing officer Trevor Heritage said: "There was disturbance in terms of music from the premises, and noise from crowds as they left the premises, and a failure to control the immediate threshold of the premises.

"The police felt that it was the latest opening pub in the town and because of that it was attracting people quite late at night who had already been drinking.

"Both police and environmental health officers were getting complaints from people living close to the pub."

He added: "One couple living close by with two young children said late-night noise was affecting the children's schooling and their ability to run their business."

Counsel for Greene King told the panel the company hoped to install secondary glazing and wooden gating to provide noise protection and had already resolved some noise issues.