A PUB labelled a nuisance by local residents has withdrawn a controversial application to extend its hours.

The Flag Inn in Arnold Road, Egerton, sparked a backlash from neighbours after applying to change its closing time from 11.30pm to 12.30am every day.

Greene King Brewery also wanted to extend outside drinking hours from 10pm until 11pm and have a condition lifted which allows only six live music events a year.

The extended hours are made possible by the relaxation of licensing laws in 2005.

But the brewery withdrew its request after the pub was refused planning permission last month to erect a shelter for smokers over its outdoor seating area.

Local residents had told councillors drunken customers outside the pub already made their lives a misery.

Bolton Council officers made a surprise visit to the pub on Friday, March 23, when they found licensing conditions being flouted.

People were drinking in the outdoor seating area after 10pm and discarded glasses were left outside. Employees told the officers the pub was short-staffed.

Their observations, including a recommendation that someone should be employed on the pub doors on busy nights, were due to be reported to the council's licensee committee before the application was withdrawn.

The application had led to 13 objections from residents. One of them, Paul Milligan, said male and female customers had urinated outside his home while others had subjected him to abuse.

Fellow Arnold Street resident Andrew Donaldson said: "The problems of parking, access, litter, anti-social behaviour and petty vandalism have become much more acute in recent times.

"Greene King is obviously displaying a total lack of respect for this otherwise quiet neighbourhood."

Another, John Imrie, said: "It would be grossly unfair to local residents to have noisy drinkers and drivers going up and down our otherwise quiet street until well after midnight, seven nights a week."

A Greene King spokesman said the planning and licensing applications were linked and a decision was yet to be made on whether an appeal would be lodged over the smoking shelter plan.