Shipley residents are calling on supermarket giants Asda to pull the plug on midnight opening hours.

Store bosses have extended the hours of operation at the town's outlet in Well Croft from 10pm to midnight on Thursdays and Fridays as the busy rush to Christmas gets under way.

But residents living near the supermarket are not happy with the plans, saying the store is situated in a residential area and that the extended opening hours lead to an increase in noise and disturbances.

Now they have delivered a 117-name petition to Bradford Council -- due to go before members of the Town and Country Planning (Shipley Area) sub-committee on Thursday - registering their disapproval of the extensions.

A letter written to council officers on behalf of residents said: "We feel strongly that 12 o'clock midnight is excessive for a store in a residential area.

"For too long the retailer has dictated to us what, when, where and how the consumer should purchase his goods.

"Over the years, individual complaints have been many and varied, some dealt with quickly while others have required more tenacity on behalf of the complainants before reasonable and acceptable solutions have been arrived at.

"Closing times have extended further and further.

"Our once peaceful residential streets are now major thoroughfares of Shipley."

A spokesman for Asda said that the store was not subject to any restrictions on opening hours.

The spokesman said: "There is a demand for longer opening hours especially at this time of the year.

"However, when looking at opening hours, we do try and balance the need of our customers with the concerns of local residents.

"We feel that by lengthening trading hours to midnight on only two week days, we have reached an appropriate compromise.

"However we will monitor the situation over the coming months and reassess our position in the New Year."

At Thursday's meeting, council officers are recommending that councillors make a note of the petition.

"Members should note that no limit to the hours of trading was imposed on the original grant of planning approval in 1983," says a report to the committee.

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