The corner shop in Hillworth Road, in Devizes, is to be allowed to sell alcohol every day from 5.30am to 11pm despite objections from the town council.

Wiltshire Council’s eastern area licensing sub-committee agreed on Monday to allow Central Stores to start selling alcohol for longer hours after it heard there were no objections from the police.

The shop, which was sold to a small chain of convenience stores just before Christmas, used to be allowed to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm on Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 8.30pm on Sundays.

Coun Peter Evans, representing the town council, said there were fears that if alcohol could be sold from 5.30am people who had been drinking in the town centre until the early hours would then go to the shop to buy alcohol.

He said: “There is a worry about noise, disturbance and anti-social behaviour.

“The town council does not think there is a need from the local community for alcohol to be sold at 5.30am.”

But Chris Mitchener, representing Central Stores, told the committee that changes to the licensing laws meant there it was no longer necessary for the applicant to show a need.

He pointed to the fact that the police had not objected to the change and there had been no letters or petitions from people living nearby.

He said Central Stores had gradually been building up a network of convenience shops across the region and wanted them to offer uniform opening hours.

He said: “We don’t have to show demand. Neither the police nor the council’s own environment and protection department have objected.”

He said Central Stores operated a training programme for all staff, who had to take a written test to ensure they were aware of all regulations governing the sale of alcohol and other items.

Committee chairman Allison Bucknell said at the end of the hearing that the licence would be granted as requested but it could be reviewed once the new opening hours were in force in the event of there being complaints from the public or if the police expressed concerns.