A BID by a town centre takeaway to stay open until 5.30am has been refused.

Istanbul takeaway sought permission to serve food until 5am at 144 Old Christchurch Road, opposite Horseshoe Common, but members of the town's licensing board agreed this could contribute to antisocial behaviour.

The bid had been opposed to Dorset Police, which showed the board CCTV footage of violent incidents in the area in the early hours of the morning.

"We felt it was not appropriate," said board chairman Councillor Andrew Morgan.

"The police showed three different bits of CCTV showing fights and disturbances outside late night premises.

"We felt another would only make things worse. We want people to get home safely."

In March, manager Mohanad Badawi told the Echo his business depended on the late night trade from revellers at clubs and bars in the area.

However his application was deemed to have failed to justify a departure from the town's cumulative impact area policy, which requires that no new late opening and alcohol licences are granted in the Old Christchurch Road area, except in exceptional circumstances.

Cllr Morgan said: "The gentleman was very nice and credible and clearly wanted to set up a good business.

"But the CCTV was very persuasive. It was very regrettable to see people behave like that.

"To grant the application would have required it to be exceptional in some way, but it was just another kebab shop."

The application might not have been considered by the board at all, as the takeaway's representative, licensing consultant Steve Wright, pointed out at a first meeting that the police representation had been submitted prior to the application due to an admin mix up.

He said the bid should therefore,with no objections, be granted by officers under delegated powers.

However the council's legal officer ruled that the submission was valid.

Cllr Morgan said: "We went ahead on that basis. It may be challenged, but I hope not as the police representation was given in good faith and in our view was valid."