LONGER drinking times at a student bar will reduce noise and disturbance to nearby residents, claims the president of the union at University College Worcester.

Gemma Ball told Worcester City Council's licensing committee that extending closing time at the university's bar from 11pm to 12.30am on a Wednesday and Saturday would reduce the number of students wandering around St John's at night.

She said longer opening hours meant that students would not walk into Worcester to finish a night out, which was often the reason people living near the university were disturbed.

The longer hours would mean students would not all leave at the same time, which would also reduce noise. It would also mean improved security for students, Miss Ball added.

"During fresher week we had an extension to opening times, which didn't cause complaints because students were varying the times at which they left," she said.

"If the bar's open longer, students will stay there and go to the halls of residence on the campus, not stagger into Worcester, which causes the noise to residents nearby.

"It also means the welfare of students is looked after because they're less likely to find trouble if they don't go out of the campus."

Councillor Stephen Inman, chairman of the committee, raised concerns about levels of noise from the bar.

He said he had received a letter of objection from a concerned resident who claimed the students would shout and sing until the early hours of the morning.

But Miss Ball said noise limiters had been fitted to the bar to ensure residents were not disturbed.

"No one has brought any complaints to us. We've also had environmental health officers check our noise levels and they're satisfied," she said.

Coun Rod Staines asked Philip Roberts, the university's bar manager, why the union wanted Wednesday nights to be extended.

"Students like Wednesday nights because it's the day of sports, and students like to commemorate matches," Mr Roberts said.

"Visiting teams won't be able to join them and cause problems because coach operators are very strict about setting off on the return journey before 6.30pm."

The committee granted the extension for six months, to establish if there would be any problems.

Committee members also ordered that noise monitoring devices should be fitted to the homes of nearby residents.