A decision about the future of a Bradford nightclub, where a couple were shot outside, has been deferred until May.

The club owner's legal representative told Bradford Council Licensing Panel he had only been notified of police objections last week.

Chief Inspector Ray Shepherd wrote to the panel asking for the entertainment licence of Planet Venus, in Sunbridge Road, not to be renewed. He said there had been serious disorder associated with the premises and police were unable to offer adequate supervision.

A young man and a woman were shot outside the club in the early hours of a Monday morning last November.

The letter added that police visits had found the owner rarely at the premises and door staff were unregistered.

But the panel, at the request of club owner Angela Minnott, deferred the matter to a meeting in May.

Speaking at the meeting, Superintendent Colin Western said: "I have serious concerns for public safety for people using the premises and I have serious concerns that delaying this matter would have serious consequences for the public."

But Ms Minnott's legal representative, John Cordingley, said he had only received notification of the objections last week and urged the panel to defer their decision.

He said: "We believe the police have made assumptions which are incorrect. They have misinterpreted the facts.

"It's a serious situation and insufficient time has been allowed to receive proper instructions.''

Ms Minnott had not been regularly at the premises because of ill health. Any police officers who had visited were welcomed and shown around, he added.

lFour men have been charged with the shooting which took place in the early hours on November 27, and are due to appear in court.