THE fate of a town centre nightspot which hopes to open until 4.30am will be decided this week.

Fashions Café Bar, in St Botolph’s Street, Colchester, has applied to an extra hour to its current 3.30am closing time on weekends.

But police have submitted damning evidence to Colchester Council, which will decide upon the application.

Officers say the believe door staff would not be able to protect the public.

In a statement to the council's licensing sub-committee, Essex Police licensing officer Alan Beckett said: "Being one of only a few premises to be open after 3am the premises will attract the custom of potential patrons who have already drunk themselves to a high level of intoxication and thus the management must be able to demonstrate they are currently steps to prevent the admittance to the premises of such persons and that trained and competent staff are present to do so and have sufficient skills to handle confrontational situations where entry is refused.

He added: "It is of concern that no conditions exist on the current door staff to be visible, for example wearing hi-vis clothing or even that door staff should be on duty for particular periods whilst the premises is open or for a period after which the premises has closed.

"An incident occurred outside the venue on Saturday July 22 around 1.40am whereby it would seem that the door team are struggling to prevent a group from entering the venue."

Fashion Café Bar owners were contacted for comment but chose not to.