THE news that four of Worcester's most popular nightclubs are applying for longer opening hours will be welcomed by some - and feared by others.

The owners of Bamboo, Tramps, Le Mangos and Bushwackers have all applied to the city council's licensing committee to extend their hours.

For some of these clubs, that will mean staying open until 2am on Sunday nights, instead of closing at 12.30am.

Some of the residents in the city's Bridge Street area have spoken to the Evening News of their concerns, especially in regard to the nearby Bamboo nightclub, in Tybridge Street.

Sunday had, according to spokesman Vince Tregus, been a night of relative calm, compared to the rowdy behaviour of revellers every other night of the week.

Now, he and his Bridge Street neighbours, are faced with the prospect of late-night noise from clubbers every night of the week.

Of course, Bamboo and other nightclubs are not responsible for the behaviour of their patrons once they have left their premises.

Also, we are not suggesting that all clubbers are prone to abusing residents and disturbing the peace. The majority will wend their way home quite peacefully.

But, given the fact that for every one noisy clubber there are 100 residents trying to have a peaceful night's rest, shouldn't the majority be taken into consideration?

We hope the city's licensing committee will take their feelings into account in their deliberations.