AN Ilkley pub's fund-raising Family Fun Day could be in jeopardy because of protests from neighbouring residents.

The Midland Hotel has applied for a licence to hold the yearly outdoor event, the centrepiece of which is a volleyball competition, in its car park off Station Road on Sunday, August 25.

But Bradford Council's licensing panel, which was due to consider the application yesterday, has received six letters of objection from local householders worried about potential noise and disturbance.

Landlord Christopher Hems, however, said he was confident of gaining the Outdoor Public Entertainment licence he needed - and insisted the show would go on regardless.

He said: "We've already been granted a temporary bar licence to serve beer in the car park and the entertainment licence is solely so we can have a DJ to speak over the PA system.

"Even if we aren't granted the licence the event will still go ahead, but just with piped music and at the same noise levels, so I don't know what they're complaining about."

Mr Hems and his wife, Andrea, have laid on the competition - which sees volleyball teams of three battling it out for supremacy on sand courts behind the pub - for the last two years.

All proceeds from the day go to Marie Curie Cancer Care, a fact which has persuaded Whitton Croft Road resident Stephen Oxley to adopt a philosophical attitude towards the event.

He said: "It is noisy and because of all the buildings around here the sound really does echo, but it's the third year now it's been running and we think it is something positive for the town so we're happy with it.

"It is for charity and it's something different, so we work around it and we have actually arranged to be away on the night so we won't be bothered by the noise."

Neighbour Dennis Bee, however, who has lived on the street for eight years and is one of those who have formally objected, questions why those living 'on the front line' should have to put up with the disturbance.

He said: "I objected to it because quite frankly it goes on too long. We've had it two years now without any entertainment licence and it runs from noon to 11pm, so it is a long day.

"I think an amplifier is totally unnecessary in this situation because the car park has buildings on three sides of it and the sound just echoes about. And music at 11pm on a Sunday night is just too much.

"It is for charity but it's for the pub's profits as well. I don't go away and why should I have to tolerate this?"

But Mr and Mrs Hems say the competition has proved a popular attraction which helps a cause close to their heart.

Mrs Hems said: "My father-in-law died of cancer last year so Marie Curie holds a special place for us.

"I can understand if it's old people complaining who are worried about the noise but we don't want to upset anybody and we do try tokeep it down.

"It is just for one day out of the whole year and all for a good cause.

"It's always really good fun and we usually get a good crowd and some very good teams. People were asking us when this year's one was before we even started advertising it!"

Ilkley district councillor Martin Smith, who chairs Bradford's licensing panel, said this was the first time the pub had applied for a licence for the event.

He said: "I am not aware of any objections being made in previous years but it was brought to our notice that this event was happening so we advised Mr Hems that he needed to make an application.

"It will go through the normal process and the committee will decide if it should be approved or not."

Forms to enter a team for the volleyball competition, which is being sponsored by Tarmac Northern Ltd and will take place with or without an amplified DJ, can be picked up from the bar.