A Somerset church which was converted into a pub can now serve alcohol and play music later into the evening after a new licence was granted.

Stephen Elliott runs The Chapel on Graham Way in Cotford St. Luke, next to the village’s Co-operative Food store.

Mr Elliott applied to Somerset Council to amend his existing licence, allowing him to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises and to play live or recorded music later on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The council’s licensing sub-committee west has signed off on these changes, despite locals’ concerns about noise and antisocial behaviour.

The pub, which first opened in 2008, currently serve alcohol and permits music until 11pm daily – with extended opening hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Under the new licence, the pub will be able to serve alcohol until midnight on Thursdays and Fridays and until 12.30am on Saturdays, with the 11pm cut-off remaining in place for the other days of the week.

Live or recorded music will also be permitted both inside and outside the premises until midnight on Thursdays and Fridays and until 12:30am on Saturdays – though Mr Elliott gave assurances that live music would not be played outside after 8pm and that noise levels would be “monitored and kept within reasonable levels”.

Ashleigh Cobden, who lives near the pub, lodged a formal objection to the extended licensing hours, arguing it would exacerbate existing problems in the village.

After a short debate in confidential session, the sub-committee voted to grant the amended licence.