Police say Blackpool's Queen Street has highest level of alcohol-fueled crime as they block takeaway licence bid

Lazma Rozite wanted to trial late night opening at Flame Inn on Queen Street but a council licensing panel refused her application for a temporary event notice following police objections.

Ms Rozite, who also owns Hauze Restaurant on Talbot Road in Blackpool, told the hearing she wanted to expand her business and prove she could operate a late night venue responsibly.

She said there would be no alcohol on sale, with the sole aim being to sell food to revellers on their way home as "the area is not busy until 1am".

She said door staff would be on duty and no more than 25 people would be allowed inside the premises at any one time.

Ms Rozite said: "I would like to be given a chance to prove I would be responsible and can handle being open until 4am."

She said having more late night takeaways in the area would reduce the risk of problems caused by people waiting for food as it would reduce queues.

But PC Andrew Taylor, of Lancashire police licensing, said Queen Street was already in the area of Blackpool which had the highest number of alcohol related incidents in Lancashire.

The peak time for trouble was between 9pm and 4am.

Between April 16 and May 16 this year, there had been 33 recorded crimes in Queen Street including a rape, 22 assaults, six thefts, three public disorder incidents and a malicious communication.

PC Taylor said: "Allowing these premises to operate until 4am will encourage drunken persons to congregate in the area and lead to more crime and disorder.

"There is more risk to the public of individuals becoming increasingly vulnerable to intoxication which increases the chance of them becoming victims of crime or needing medical treatment due to injuries sustained."

He added there were already 18 late night premises in the immediate area, and adding another "would lead to further alcohol fuelled crime and disorder and contribute to the stress and further burden on emergency services."

The licensing panel issued a counter notice prohibiting the temporary events to take place on May 27 (11pm to 4am), May 28 (11pm to 4am) and May 29 (11pm to 3am) as had been applied for.

However Flame Inn can trade under its existing late night refreshment licence until 1am. Licences are required for any trade between 11pm and 5am.

A decision notice issued by the council said the panel had taken into account the applicant was "an experienced restaurant operator".

But it added: "This area is already saturated with late night takeaways and in the police view, allowing this event to proceed would exacerbate the problems already being experienced in the early hours of the morning."