A Bolton takeaway is not allowed to open until 4am every day after councillors said they had "no confidence" in its owner.

Applicant Rafiq Ali Ahmed applied for a late-night licence for Bradshawgate's Big Ladz Kitchen around two months ago.

Mr Ahmed asked for the takeaway to be allowed to open until 4am every day but, before the Licensing Sub-Committee last month, both licensing officers and police officers said it was opening into the early hours already.

PC Ben Brookfield, from GMP Bolton, and Garry Lee, from Bolton Council, said they went to Big Ladz Kitchen on multiple occasions in the months up to the application when it was opening until at least midnight illegally.

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Mr Lee said: "This area is a hot spot for crime and disorder due to the number of intoxicated people coming from the bars and the clubs and then using takeaways as an excuse to hang around and, potentially, to become involved in crime and disorder. Therefore the introduction of another takeaway would add, substantially, to the issues.

"The takeaway opened earlier this year, but no application for a premises licence to provide late-night refreshment was made at the time, and no contact with the Licensing Unit is recorded."

On June 26, the application was up for consideration by councillors David Chadwick, Amy Cowen and Maureen Flitcroft.

Cllr Chadwick, Cllr Cowen and Cllr Flitcroft refused the application on the basis they had "no confidence" in Mr Ahmed.

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The refusal said: "The Sub-Committee had no confidence in Mr Ahmed as he knew he should not be operating after 11.00 p.m. and he had continued to do so. They did not believe that he would comply with any conditions given his history of non-compliance.

"The Sub-Committee had concerns that the premises was in a prime location and a hot spot for crime and disorder and they did not feel that Mr Ahmed understood the gravity of the situation."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.