A landlord's attempt to increase his pub's capacity has been derailed after a council discovered the extension he'd already built was "illegal".

It was built when Kevin Gibbons splashed out £500,000 last year to revamp the Cinque Port Arms in New Romney High Street.

But Shepway District Council (SDC) hadn't authorised planning permission.

The revelation came at a council licensing sub committee, where Mr Gibbons sought permission to increase the 700-year-old pub’s legal capacity from 75 to 350 guests.

He was also applying to extend the pub’s live music licensing hours to Sunday.

But councillor Dick Pascoe, committee chairman, said at the meeting: “We are rejecting your application because a crime has been committed, that is our decision, we object to this application.”

The bid had already been met with strong opposition, with written objections made by four residents about noise, anti-social behaviour and foul language.

Sharon Butler, who lives behind the pub told the meeting how existing noise levels ruin her evenings, causing heart palpatations.

She added: “I have even thought about moving, I love my house and I can’t live here any more.

“(My husband and I) get stressed out, I already get heart palpatations.

“I also believe there is a noise abatement notice served on this pub so do wonder why the council would even consider any additions to the licence?

“Any increase to the regularity of these events will be detrimental to our family.”

But New Romney councillor Suzie Govett threw her weight behind the plans.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Gibbons and owners Sharon Gibbons and Sharon Epps, she said residents should “just live with” the noise.

She said: “It has been a pub for 700 years.

“What do you do when you have a successful business that is offering something to the local residents and tourists?

“It has been a pub for 700 years and we all have to live with it.”

When Mrs Butler accused Mr Gibbons of not “expanding for the community” but for profit, he said: “I didn’t invest a million pounds in the project to not get my money back.

“But we are here to build a community pub.”

Mr Gibbons told the meeting he will meet with planning officers to discuss retrospective planning permission before launching a fresh application.