TOWN councillors have objected to an application to open an amusement arcade in Devizes town centre, despite assurances youngsters will be barred and only the over 18s allowed in.

Michael Geraghty of MG Leisure wants to open the amusement centre next door to Iceland in Maryport Street.

He said it would be open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. There would be no Sunday opening.

But councillors at Tuesday's community committee meeting were not convinced Mr Geraghty would be able to police the centre and keep the youngsters out. They were concerned problems at a previous amusement arcade, Merlins, on the first floor of the former Co-op building in the Market Place, could be repeated.

Insp Pete Bowerbank said it had been a source of public order problems, and had regularly attracted many youngsters.

After the meeting, Mr Geraghty said as a Devizes resident, he would not be involved in anything of which he could not be proud.

He said: "We have had problems overcoming the stigma of that previous amusement arcade.

"But we are aiming at older, middle-aged people who need a stopping-off point from shopping.

"We will be offering free tea and coffee, and there will be no video games and no music. No-one under 18 will be allowed in, and if there is any doubt, we will ask for ID. I have been involved in running amusement centres for 15 years in places like Ryde, Cowes, Brighton and Bognor Regis, and we have never had problems at any of them."