FEARS of a burgeoning culture of binge drinking and late-night disturbances have been fuelled by the news that one of Salisbury's largest pubs is seeking to stay open until 2am three times a week.

JD Wetherspoon has applied for an extension to its licence so that its Lloyds No 1 pub in Bridge Street can stay open until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

If its bid is successful there are fears that other city pubs will be forced to follow suit in order to stay in business.

This week Salisbury MP Robert Key said Wetherspoon's application "throws up a much wider range of issues".

Mr Key said: "No-one wants to be a killjoy to our young people but every citizen in Salisbury has the right to quiet enjoyment of their property and to walk the streets of Salisbury without feeling intimidated.

"We are perilously close to breaching both of these."

Mr Key said one of the problems of late night drinking is policing.

He said: "I was out with Salisbury's specials on a Saturday night recently and quite frankly at 1am and 2am the centre of Salisbury is not a pleasant place to be."

Mr Key said his concern was what might happen if JD Wetherspoon's application is successful and other pubs follow suit.

He said the proposed longer drinking hours with pubs able to open 24 hours a day raised important public health issues such as binge drinking, an increase in sexually transmitted diseases brought about by the effects of too much alcohol, an increase in violence and antisocial behaviour. JD Wetherspoon's application is currently with Salisbury district council and it has already attracted opposition.

Licensing officer Tony Oke confirmed this week that 49 objections had been received from city centre residents.

Concern has also been voiced by district councillor Simon Howarth, whose ward includes Bridge Street, where the riverside pub - formerly known as the King's Head, Town House and before that the County Hotel - is situated.