CITY centre residents at loggerheads with a local pub over opening hours are hoping people power will triumph.

People living in Monkgate fear their "peace and sanity" will be threatened if the Tap And Spile is allowed to trade longer and hold al fresco events.

Professor JR Lindsay Smith, who has lived opposite the pub for more than 30 years, mounted a campaign against the proposals by sending more than 200 leaflets to local residents.

"The pub is part of the community. We are happy for the pub to do its business, but not at the expense of the local community.

"There is no way to control music outside. It will just be too pervasive," said Professor Lindsay Smith.

Many of the 36 letters of objection received by City of York Council cite a charity weekend, Elvis Academy, held last year as an example of how disruptive outside events were.

Michael Powell, of Monkgate, said the move would "increase the flow on inebriated groups of people from one pub to another".

"We are regularly abused and jostled, and our cars vandalised by large groups of noisy drinkers in the street and it is, therefore, unfair to expect elderly residents to have to endure this kind of loutish behaviour," wrote Mr Powell.

Melanie Merry, who has run the pub with her husband, Jack, for two years, said she was angry that one resident had instigated the flood of objections.

Mrs Merry said the Tap And Spile was a quiet, real ale pub, where the average age of punters was about 40, and it did not attract students because they had no drinks promotions.

"I've voluntarily put conditions on my licence - I'll stick to only five outside events a year, so I've given back the residents 360 days. They'll all finish at 9pm, which I don't think is unreasonable," said Mrs Merry.

"I live in the street too.

" I have to put up with people peeing in my doorway and vomiting on the pavement, but they aren't my customers."

The pub has applied to vary its hours so it can open from Monday to Wednesday 10am to midnight, Thursday to Saturday 10am to 1am, and Sunday 10am to midnight.

It is currently open Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm, and on Sunday from noon until 10.30pm.

The licensing committee will make a decision at The Guildhall, in York, on Wednesday at 10am.

Updated: 10:12 Monday, August 15, 2005