A Milford Haven venue will now be open until 3.30am on Saturday and Sunday, despite objections from a neighbouring business.

Jayne Anderson and Sarah Kimpson applied to Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub-committee to extend the opening hours of the Astoria restaurant and bar until 3.30amevery weekend and until 4.30am on bank holidays.

The council received two objections; one from Milford Haven town council, who said that they had had 'insufficient information' from the police and that they were worried the later license could have a negative impact on a residential area.

The director of adjacent business, Ocon Fire and Security, also objected; saying that when the Astoria opened later over Christmas his property was vandalised and vomited on and there had been an attempted break in.

He also referred to an incident when an Astoria door supervisor had allegedly pushed a customer off the steps of the building, causing injuries.

"It was these nights that have proved to me that later hours will actually cause physical property damage and human casualties," he said.

Representing Mrs Anderson and Kimpson, solicitor Gareth Philips said:

"There is no evidence that the damage was caused by patrons of the Astoria. There had been no complaint made to the police or the owners of the venue. They have experienced doorman in place and both owners also hold SIA badges."

He added that the doorman involved in the alleged steps incident no longer worked for the Astoria and the matter was in the hands of the courts.

Mrs Anderson and Kimpson, both former psychiatric nurses, told the sub-committee that they had worked closely with the police and licensing authority since they opened the Astoria, a disused former bingo hall, last October.

They said that they were used to managing challenging situations and working within highly regulated professions. One of them regularly worked on the door beside the door staff.

Councillors retired briefly to discuss the application before approving it with immediate effect.