An application for a popular Rickmansworth cafe to extend the hours it can sell alcohol and to play music has been positively received by the council.

The Café in the Park, in the grounds of Rickmansworth Aquadrome, wants to change its license to allow it to hold live music events until 9pm Fridays to Sundays.

They also want to change their license to allow the sale of alcohol until 9pm.

Councillors on Three Rivers District Council licencing sub committee said objectors did not have "particularly strong arguments".

Councillor Martin Trevett said: "The point coming up from the 13 people objecting to the application was about the possibility of disturbance and noise going on into the evening.

"The new licence would be from 9am to 9pm, they currently sell alcohol from 12pm until 5.30pm.

"There would only be an issue in the summer, as the cafe would not be open at the extended times in winter.

"But we felt 9pm in the summer was not really very late, children are still out playing at that time. We did not consider this a particulary strong argument from objectors."

He continued: "It's fair to say we were quite roundly impressed with the cafe's operating schedule.

"It was clear the music and drink served would only be as an accompaniment to its main selling point, which is food."

The licencing sub committee, held on Tuesday, was chaired by councillor Terry Dos Ramos and also attended by councillor Len Tippen.

The committee is yet to announce its verdict.

Joint owner of the Cafe in the Park, Ian Trisk-Grove, told the committee: "We are a community-based business looking to extend its current offering within its permitted hours of trade.

"The Aquadrome is a beautiful and much loved park, enjoyed by us equally as much as the local residents and wider catchment.

"This application was not an attempt to disrupt this.

"The cafe will continue to offer alcohol as an incidental sale alongside its food offering.

"The extension of trading is not an intension to change operating activity and morph ourselves into a late night drinking venue.

"Similarly the provision of live music was intended to compliment the enjoyment of our customers, who are a wide and carried demographic group.

"To start loud music events would see us alienate large groups of our existing loyal customers, something we cannot afford and do not want to do."

He concluded: "We have build our business steadily over the last 10 years and are very keen this stays as a valued community hub that it currently is.

"We want to maintain the family friendly environment that we have created, enjoyed equally by our customers and staff."