A Bolton takeaway is allowed to open into the early hours after the police withdrew their opposition to the plan.

Bradshawgate's Royal Chicken Grill applied for a licence to open until 4am, every day of the week, last month.

Initially the application was opposed by the police as a result of its potential to add to the anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour in the area which is already a drain on their resources.

GMP Bolton's Ben Brookfield wrote to the council ahead of the meeting of the licensing committee at the town hall on Wednesday (December 20) to ask for the application to be refused.

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PC Brookfield said: "GMP objects to the opening times in the application in which it is stated the closing time is 4am.

"There is a distinct lack of detail in the application as to how the premises would promote the four licensing objectives."

On Wednesday, however, the police withdrew their opposition to the application and the meeting of the licensing committee at the town hall was cancelled. The reason for the withdrawal is unknown.

Bolton Council confirmed the approval of the application in a short statement to The Bolton News the following day.

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A spokesperson said: "The application for Royal Chicken Grill has been granted as GMP withdrew their objection."

The application comes as the council asks for views on changes to its late night levy after the start of another round of consultation this month.

The idea is for businesses to contribute to the cost of anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour via a tax on those with a late night licence.

At the time of a round of consultation in the spring of this year the authority was looking to impose the levy on those with a licence to sell any alcohol between the hours of 3am and 6am across the borough as a whole.

Now in another round of consultation over six weeks the authority is looking to impose the levy on those with a licence to sell any refreshment, including food, between the hours of 3am and 6am in the town centre only.

The consultation runs from now until January 22, 2024. To contribute go to bolton.gov.uk/directory-record/5043/late-night-levy-town-centre-food-refreshment-premises.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.