A takeaway has been refused permission to run a food delivery service from its premises until 4am.

Jaspers in Longport had originally applied to the city council licensing panel for longer opening hours but revised its application following complaints by residents.

It already has permission to trade until 1.30am on weekdays and 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays but wanted to vary its licence to provide a telephone delivery service until 4am from Monday to Saturday.

Solicitor for the business, David Dadds, said Jaspers would close as normal and there would be no indication to the passing public that the kitchen was still operating.

The owners, he said, would use a side door in Longport to deliver food following telephone orders.

But neighbours were concerned that the coming and going of the delivery vehicle in the early hours would still disturb them.

The panel refused the application on the grounds that it would create a public nuisance in a residential area.

But there was some good news for the owners of Jaspers because the council has dropped a planned review of the business’s licence which had been sought by the environmental protection scheme.

It has been decided that it is not in the public interest to pursue a review in the light of a recent prosecution of the company which was fined £8,000 for trading outside its hours.

The council also took into consideration the result of Jasper’s latest application which was refused.