A Watford kebab shop has had its bid to temporarily extend its open hours this weekend thrown out by politicians after they heard it would mean more police officers would have to be drafted into the town centre.

Watford Town Kebabs, in The Parade, had wanted to extend its closing time this Saturday from 2.30am to 3.15am and on Sunday from midnight to 3.15am.

However the application met stiff opposition from the police who said the move would increase violent disorder in the town centre if agreed.

Police Sergeant Marie White described takeaways as "flashpoints" for disorder in the town as they caused drunk people to hang around and get into arguments.

She said: "People hang around takeaways, they come out and eat their food in the immediate vicinity.

"What happens is because they are drunk, many of them are drunk, they get themselves into disputes.

"That’s where we get increases in disorder."

Councillors were told that Watford Town Kebabs’ application for a temporary extension came weeks after two large fights had broken out in the same night near Hot Stuff Balti, in which 14 people had been arrested.

As a result that takeaway had its licence reviewed and its weekend opening hours slashed by a hour and a half on weekends.

Police Sergeant White said that since the closure in April of the Sam’s Chicken takeaway, opposite Area night club, there had been a noticeable decrease in disorder in the town centre.

She told councillors if the Watford Town Kebab application was granted it would force police to put more officers in the town centre at weekends.

She said: "So sure are we that there will be disorder that we will have to provide extra policing resources. I strongly believe we shouldn’t have to put extra resources in place for an extra licence condition."

No one from Watford Town Kebabs turned up to the meeting to answer questions.

In the last year, the takeaway has had two similar applications to extend its opening times rejected by Watford Borough Council .

In December, councillors refused it permission to open longer in the festive period and in February it had an application to extend its general weekend times thrown out.

At today’s hearing the three councillors on the committee, Liberal Democrats George Derbyshire and Lindsey Scudder and Independent Malcolm Meerabux, voted against the application.

Councillor Derbyshire said: "The committee took account of the evidence of the police with regard to the takeaway being a flashpoint for crime and disorder and antisocial behaviour."