HUNDREDS of residents are being urged to back efforts to block a late-night licence at York's Barbican Centre.

The Save Our Barbican campaign group says it has delivered leaflets to 500 homes, urging people to lodge objections with York Magistrates by no later than this weekend.

It has also telephoned 140 supporters in an effort to mobilise support as it seeks to prevent the centre serving drinks until 2am, amid concerns over late-night noise and disturbance.

Absolute Leisure (AL), which is set to take over the running of the centre from City of York Council, has lodged a fresh application with magistrates following the collapse last week of a three-day hearing to consider its first application.

The hearing, attended by about 25 objectors, was unable to go ahead because legal notices had been posted incorrectly.

Magistrates said they could not accommodate another three-day hearing until next April, and turned down an application by Absolute Leisure for it to go ahead in January at a different venue.

But the company later told the Evening Press it might apply again to magistrates next month for an earlier date.

The leaflets state there is "good news and bad news". It says the good news is that AL had failed to secure the licence. "The bad news is that they have made a fresh application. This means that if you wish to stop nightclub-type operations (open until 2am, with all the problems this entails) you must make a new objection.

"We believe that 2am alcohol operations are unsuitable in residential areas. If you agree and wish to object, you must do so today, stating your reasons."

Save Our Barbican added that objectors should produce two copies of their letter, the first to be sent to the Clerk to the Justices at York Magistrates Court and the other to be posted to Absolute Leisure at its headquarters c/o Mincoffs, 5, Osbourne Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne. "Make your voice heard. Defend your neighbourhood - write today," adds the leaflet.

Absolute Leisure's managing director, Tony Knox, was unavailable for comment, but the company has previously denied that the Barbican will operate as a nightclub, or that it will cause late-night disturbance.

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, November 25, 2004