Blackpool's biggest club has been given the go ahead to open until 4am - just three months after being stripped of its late licence by magistrates.

The Syndicate, Church Street, will now be able to remain open an hour past its usual closing time of 3am after council licensing officials received no objections to the extension from residents or the police, who in November called for the club's late licence to be taken away.

Talbot ward councillor and licensing committee member, Cllr Roy Hutchinson said: "The simple fact of the matter is that the council can only enter into discussion about the refusal of a licence extension if there are objections put forward by police, residents or other interested parties.

"It doesn't matter how many objections there may have been in the past, or the nature of these previous complaints.

"As far as we're aware, no one has come forward to object so the 4am closing will automatically go ahead."

The news comes just three months after police successfully persuaded magistrates in Fleetwood to revoke the venue's right to serve alcohol after 11pm by presenting them with a dossier of 61 serious incidents which had occurred at the club since opening in December 2002.

Among these were reports of excessive violence from doorstaff, open drug use on the premises, incidents of disorder and indecency and failure to prevent children, thought to be as young as 13, being allowed into the venue.

The move forced the Nordwinds, the owners of the club, to close it and undertake magistrates' recommendations that they should "open up a dialogue" between themselves and police. Three weeks later the club reopened under new licensing laws introduced on November 26.

Blackpool police yesterday confirmed they had raised no objections to the new licence extension, but refused to comment on why. No one from the club was available for comment.

The Syndicate now has an opportunity to regain its place as Blackpool's top nightspot after it was announced that three of the resort's favourite clubbing venues were to close over the coming weeks.

Both NTK, on Market Street, and Rumours, at Talbot Square, will close for redevelopment while the Promenade-based 'Club Heaven and Hell' shut its doors for good on Saturday night.