Plans to extend the opening hours of a Chatham takeaway have been withdrawn following a series of objections.

Tops Pizza in Luton Road initially wanted to keep its doors open to the public until 2am on weekdays and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, but later changed the application to "delivery only".

Applicant Ali Morad Yazdi-Nodouchani wrote to Medway Council: “It is difficult to operate any small business in the current climate, and additional hours are required to keep pace with other food deliveries in the area.”

Concerns were raised by a number of public bodies – including Kent Police and the council’s licensing team – while protestations were made by local resident Stephen Perez and ward councillor Cllr Tristan Osborne (Lab).

The takeaway is in a “heavily populated” residential street, and there were fears changing its daily closing time of 11pm would add to “the already high levels of crime and disorder”.

Chief superintendent Tim Smith’s objection read: “There is a risk residents would be disturbed into the early hours due to the anti-social behaviour which is often associated to late-night food establishments.

“The likely outcome would be an increase of calls to police reporting anti-social behaviour and incidents subsequently placing greater demands on police resources.”

The matter was due to be discussed by Medway Council’s licensing hearing panel today, but members were told the application had been pulled.

Licensing officer Helen Buddin said: “Following receipt of representations, the applicant has withdrawn the application for a new premises license and the hearing has been cancelled.”

A planning application to extend the opening hours at Tops Pizza in Chatham was refused in February 2018, with the move said to “have the potential to lead to an unacceptable impact upon neighbouring amenities”.