A bar selling alchoholic drinks has been given the go-ahead at the new Ledbury Community Sports Hall at John Masefield High School.

Councillors voted to approve the plan at a meeting of Herefordshire Council's northern area planning sub-committee, despite objections from local residents.

There were concerns that the move would create more traffic congestion on Mabel's Furlong and that licensed premises should not be allowed on school grounds.

One resident, Douglas Brooks of the Southend, said he still felt that a bar was inappropriate.

"Why a health establishment that should be encouraging people to get fit needs alcohol I don't know!" he said.

"My own guess is that it won't be used a great deal expect for functions. So, although I've got reservations about it, I don't feel tremendously worried.

"It just seems inappropriate when we have so many other pubs in town."

Sports hall facilities manager Rob Young said this would give them another option, but they still needed to obtain a drinks licence first.

"This will be just another service we can offer the community if they need it," he said.

"But at least we've got the option now of whether we offer it or not.

"If we find the people of Ledbury don't need it, then we don't have to take it any further.

"It might be useful for the school's productions, so that people can come in during the intervals. It might also be good at sports tournaments, but we could just get a casual drinks licence for that."

School governor Spencer Lane said he was in favour of the bar, as long as it did not conflict with the running of the school.

"I don't think anybody would have a problem with it outside of school hours," he said.

"It was the interaction with the school that was causing the concern."