A PUB blighted by drunken yobs has become the first in Lancashire to have its hours revoked under new 24 hour drinking laws.

However, the Royal Hotel, Waterfoot, will remain open after police and owners Punch Taverns agreed to a three-month trial period.

Initially Rossendale Council and police wanted to shut the Bacup Road venue after a catalogue of booze fuelled incidents.

The Royal was granted a licence on September 15 last year to open from 10am until 12.30am Monday to Sunday and until 1.30am for pre-booked parties and bank holidays.

But following disturbances one outbreak took place just the day after a licence was granted Rossendale Council's licensing determination sub-committee met to decide whether to shut the pub.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, which came into effect in November, police can close down premises if licensees are selling to under age drinkers or opening hours are causing anti-social behaviour.

They also have the power to moderate conditions of the licence.

Susan Chadwick, the council's licensing officer said a tenant had been sacked and replaced by Lisa Duckworth as temporary landlord last week.

And Anthony Horne, the police's solicitor, said representatives from Punch Taverns had agreed for the pub to restrict its serving hours until 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.30pm Sundays, with 20 minutes drinking up time.

No functions for under 25s such as 18th or 21st birthdays will be able to be held and the outside of the premises will have to be cleared of litter every morning.

The committee also imposed a condition the beer garden had to close at 9.30pm every day.

Mr Horne said police were prepared to give the new tenant a chance because there had been a improvement in the last few months. He added: "This is the first review in Lancashire and we were not aware there was this strength of feeling from the residents.

"We are prepared to give them a second chance." John Coen of Punch Taverns, based in Burton Upon Trent, said the company did not condone the incidents but a lot of them had taken place outside the pub which could have been caused by non-customers.

"It is expected that in three months the property should show marked improvement and that we can gain the confidence of the police and residents and move forward," he said.

Committee chairman Coun Hazel Steen, said: "This is a last-chance saloon and the council will be monitoring the conditions of the licence to ensure they are complied with."