TAKEAWAY owners in York have been told they must stick to strict conditions if they want to stay open late.

The message came from John Lacy, City of York Council's licensing manager, following a hearing which saw councillors grant Salt And Pepper, in Tanner Row, a licence to open until 3.30am.

It is the first outlet to be allowed to open until that time every night of the week.

Mr Lacy said: "The takeaway is situated in an area known as The Square which is a hotspot for late night drinking and entertainment venues - and for disorderly behaviour and late night crime.

"Only with conditions, like those applied here, can the local council and police hope to reduce crime and disorder in the area."

The conditions are:

Security staff must operate at the takeaway between 10.30pm and 3.30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, as well as special occasions such as Bank Holidays and race days

A CCTV system must be used and maintained during all opening hours

An appointed duty manager must be on the premises during all opening hours

Staff must pick up litter outside the outlet every day.

Mr Lacy also warned licence holders they are liable for a fine of up to £20,000 and six months imprisonment if they break their licence conditions.

Two other food shops in the city centre have late night licences with similar conditions.

The Golden Grill, in King Street, opens until 3am every night of the week.

Kebarbe-q, in Micklegate, closes its doors at 3.30am every night except Sunday, when it closes at 2.30am.

Salt And Pepper owner Lydia Williams said the takeaway already employed door staff, and had a CCTV system.

She said: "Previously, we opened until 2.30am, which was half-an-hour after the nightclubs closed. But because they're now open until later, it's causing us problems. We're having to close the door on people, which we don't want to do."

PC Mike Welsh, North Yorkshire Police licensing officer, said: "The police are aware that on occasions, door supervisors have been used at the premises, but there seems to be no standard policy as to when they are employed.

"The applicant indicates that a CCTV system is installed at the premises and, although the system is of a good standard, on two occasions in January the police attended incidents and the CCTV was either not recording, or was broken."

Ms Williams said they had subsequently changed the contract on the system, and they now had a 24-hour maintenance agreement.

Following the hearing, PC Welsh said: "We are satisfied with the licence being granted subject to the conditions."

Updated: 09:36 Friday, March 24, 2006