A central Watford off-licence’s attempt to sell booze later into the night has run into opposition from residents and a councillor.

Spar, in Queens Road, has lodged an application to increase the time it can sell alcohol by six hours.

Representatives of the shop have argued the extension will set a "good precedent" as the outlet is well run and will be an example to other retailers.

Yet residents in the area have written to Watford Borough Council saying they fear longer hours could attract more street drinkers to the area.

Documents submitted to the council’s licensing subcommittee show the shop wants to change its booze-selling hours from between 11am and 8pm to between 8am and 11pm.

It has also applied to push its opening time back by one hour to 11pm.

A letter written on behalf of Bizlink Europe Limited, which owns the shop, said it had achieved the "absolute highest standard" in serving alcohol and rejected claims the extension could cause problems for the area.

The letter said: "The reason why I mention this is with reference to the detractors’ claim and inference that the variation in licence will cause mayhem and disruption to the neighbourhood. The objection went so far as to allude that the variation will set a bad precedent.

"To the contrary we will demonstrate good practice and thereby setting a good precedent for other liquor retailers to follow."

Helen Lynch, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the area, has urged the committee to reject the application, expressing concerns the extension could lead to more antisocial behaviour in the road.

She added: "This area is historically vulnerable to this type of behaviour and it would not be in keeping with current measures to curb street drinking, i.e. no alcohol sold over 5.5 per cent AV or sold in single cans. I would strongly urge the licensing department not to grant this licence."

Former Queens Road business owner, Mike Hammond, of Hammond AVS, also wrote to the council saying he thought the application represented the need for off-licences to attract customers from outside the local area to survive.

He said: "I believe it would be grossly unfair to the residents of the area to allow this or any subsequent application. Surely the citizens of Watford are already well, even over supplied with sufficient outlets and with sufficient times to properly obtain alcohol for their own enjoyment."

The licensing sub committe is due to decide on the application next Tuesday, May 7.