The shop next to one of the kebab shops in Frome has been granted a licence to serve alcohol until 11pm.

The site had originally planned on serving until the early hours, up until 4 am, but that was later amended in response to complaints it would encourage anti-social behaviour.

Scores of locals responded on the planning application, saying the area was already blighted by anti-social behaviour and littering.

One stated: " There is already a lot of disturbance from 23 Bath Street and The Old Bath Arms at weekends. We already have a problem with people drinking and fighting outside our property, often with police needing to intervene. I regularly have to clear beer cans and even vomit by the front gates. "

Others have made the same complaint, arguing that while no one is allowed to drink in the streets around the middle of Bath Street and particularly in the church yard, they do.

The police have insisted that the shop, which is on the corner next to the entrance to St John's church, has a working and time coded CCTV system which is kept for at least a month.

Specifically: " The premises licence holder must install and maintain a comprehensive surveillance system to the satisfaction of the Police and ICO guidelines. The system must be maintained in full working order and record at all times when the premises is open for licensable activities. The correct time & date must be generated on all recordings which must be retained for a minimum period of 31 days. Recorded images must be of evidential quality."

The shop, to be known as UK OFF LICENCE will be open at 8 Bath Street. It will be able to open Monday – Sunday, 6am - 11pm and to serve alcohol, Monday – Sunday 11am – 11pm, subject to those conditions.

The shop was previously Fiat Lux, a lighting showroom which had opened in 2003.