GAZETTE & HERALD: Owner of Calne's White Hart Hotel Donal O'Dwyer says he is considering selling the building after magistrates turned down his appeal against the decision to extend his public entertainment licence to 3am.

Mr O'Dwyer, who spent more than £100,000 on refurbishing the London Road hotel after buying it in November 2002, said: "We are quite disappointed and we'll just have to look at our options."

Mr O'Dwyer appeared before Chippenham Magistrates on Monday to appeal against the decision by North Wiltshire District Council licensing committee not to extend his licence to 3am. His appeal was unsuccessful and he was ordered to pay £2,500 in costs.

The decision was welcomed by more than 20 Calne residents who attended the hearing to object to Mr O'Dwyer's appeal.

Suzanne Hazlehurst, of Church Street, said: "We're delighted about the decision although we're still going to be experiencing the same problems this Friday and Saturday because the 1am licence is still in place.

"As a result we will be making further representations when that licence comes up for renewal in July."

The court heard from six residents living in nearby Church Street and The Green including video footage showing drunken revellers shouting and singing as they left the hotel after the 1am closing time.

Professional rock musician Carrie Melbourne, of the Green, told the court how patrons of the White Hart Hotel had left her feeling "threatened and angry" after moving to Calne in October 2002 when pregnant with her first child.

She said: "I've made my entire living out of music and night clubs but it's the fact that this area is totally residential."

The White Hart Hotel, which includes a night club, had its licence extended to 1am last year but residents say the resulting noise, swearing and antisocial behaviour which they say includes urinating, vomiting and even fornication has led to them being constantly woken up at closing time each weekend.

Mr O'Dwyer said there were proposals to provide a minibus service at 3am to help take revellers away from the hotel and that patrons were now asked to leave via the rear of the hotel to avoid them congregating at the front of the premises.

In her summary chair of the bench Mrs Kimmins said the extended licence would create further noise and disruption for neighbours and so refused the application.