A new night spot has been granted a 24-hour licence despite families' complaints of swearing, shouting and fighting in the streets.Buddies Bar, which opened on the site of the Station House pub in Cromer on December 5, now plans to open until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with music until 2.

A new night spot has been granted a 24-hour licence despite families' complaints of swearing, shouting and fighting in the streets.

Buddies Bar, which opened on the site of the Station House pub in Cromer on December 5, now plans to open until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with music until 2.30am.

North Norfolk District Council's licensing committee granted the application to extend the hours at a busy meeting on Wednesday, with conditions including no outdoor drinking after 8pm, limited numbers allowed in the smoking area and at least four door staff to be on duty in the evenings.

Gavin Armstrong and Ashley Brewster who run the bar have worked with owners Punch Taverns as well as police, fire and environmental health officials to minimise noise from late-night events, which he ran during December under temporary licenses.

Stephen Foster, representing Punch Taverns, said: 'These meetings have happened so that the licensees can try to respond to concerns. Mr Armstrong has shown he is more than willing to make changes to minimise disruption.'

The meeting was told that as well as installing an ultra-modern sound system with a limiter to ensure noise levels remain under control, Mr Armstrong has spent �25,000 making the roof more soundproof and installing air conditioning.

He will also have to build an airlock door system to further reduce sound from the building.

But local residents say the main problem is not noise from inside Buddies but rowdy revellers shouting, screaming and singing in the streets under their windows.

Anne Stokes, a teacher at Sheringham Primary School who lives opposite the bar, said late-night crowds were waking her five-year-old daughter up at night and stopping the family from sleeping.

'I've lived there since 1998 before it was a licensed venue at all. I've never had a major problem with it - when it was a pub it was rarely open beyond midnight.

'Since it has opened as Buddies our weekend lives have become completely unbearable. There is shouting, screaming, fighting - even repeated car horns. My daughter is being exposed to language that is not right for her to hear.'

Roger Hardy, who also lives opposite the bar, said the situation was likely to grow worse as the year progressed.

'This is the worst winter that I can remember in Cromer, and people living nearby have experienced serious problems.

'God help us in the summer.'