A VENUE described by police as a "problem pub" has been given permission to extend.

The Albion Inn, in Newcastle, can now increase the maximum number of customers from 240 to 400.

Members of Newcastle Borough Council's licensing sub-committee yesterday approved the application, despite objections from police.

Marston's Brewery now plans to shell out up to £250,000 in the New Year on transforming the internal layout of the High Street pub and improving disabled access.

But police have warned an extra 160 drinkers could lead to an increase in drink-fuelled crime in the town centre.

Barrister Francesca Whitelaw, who represented the police at the hearing, said: "This is a substantial increase in capacity.

"More people will lead to more drinking and more crime and disorder offences into the early hours."

Sergeant Alison Bromley, licensing manager at Staffordshire Police, added: "Historically the premises has been considered as a problem for the police.

"It is in the area of the town centre where we have the most incidents."

The pub currently has permission to sell alcohol from 8am to midnight on Monday, 10am to midnight on Tuesday, 10am to 2.30am on Wednesday, 10am to 1am on Thursday, 8am to 2.30am on Friday and Saturday and noon to 2am on Sunday.

CCTV records incidents inside the pub and door supervisors wear headcams. The pub operates an over-24 policy after 10pm and has a last admission policy of 1am.

Marston's Brewery solicitor, Andrew Cochrane, who represented the pub at the meeting, rejected the police's claim.

He said: "The only reference the police have made to problems is a short sentence in their submitted evidence. They don't have any incidents specifically set out.

"After 10.45pm at weekends, people are often queuing up outside to get in, where they are passed by people walking to and from other bars.

"As well as the obvious economic benefit, this also has a crime and disorder benefit in that there will be less people standing on the streets."

When asked by Mr Cochrane to provide evidence of incidents of crime at the pub, police said they did not have any specific figures at hand.

Landlord Mark Lovatt told the committee he would increase the number of door supervisors from three to seven at weekends.

He said existing CCTV cameras would be repositioned and an extra camera put up inside the pub.

After taking nearly two hours to reach a decision, the committee decided to grant the application.

Members said the conditions already in place at the pub were appropriate to deal with the increase in customers.