Doner kebabs will now be served up in a quiet Watford street after an inspector overturned Watford Borough Council's decision to refuse the late-night take-away permission to open.

At the start of February the council's development control committee rejected plans to open the Fast Food Hut, in St John's Road, despite planning officers recommending the application for approval.

Councillors said the application - to open the take-away until 11.30pm at night, seven days a week - would bring late night noise to the area.

However, the applicant, a Mr Latif, appealed against that decision and has now won the right to start selling burgers, pizzas and kebabs at the shop until 11pm.

The inspector's decision has been met with contempt from local residents, many of whom opposed the application and even attended the inspector's hearing at the town hall.

The shop, which is on the corner of St John's Road and Estcourt Road, had previously been run as a café which closed at 3pm every afternoon.

After that, the premises then stood empty for the past two years and local residents say the area will now suffer from noise and litter as late night drinkers from nearby pubs are drawn toward the kebab shop late at night.

Councillor Sheila Smillie, who represents the Central ward said: "People who attended the meeting with the inspector are obviously upset because they felt the inspector would rule in their favour.

"I don't think anyone wants a kebab shop on their door step."

Councillor Smillie said she hoped that because the owners were only granted permission to stay open until 11pm, as opposed to the 11.30pm, the shop would not turn into a post-pub hang out for drinkers.

She added: "The residents are upset but they feel they have done everything they can.

"Now we've got to see what the applicant is going to do, because they might not decide to stay open until 11pm.

"But hopefully with it only being open until 11pm it won't prompt people to leave the Wellington Arms and Lynch's Bar and will keep the crowds away."