A PUB is celebrating victory in its controversial 14-month battle to play music into the early hours - but neighbours have responded with "shock, horror, disgust and anger".

These were the emotions cited by Park Lane Residents' Association chairman Anita Beavis after a judge sitting at Worcester Crown Court allowed the appeal by The Watermill against a decision not to allow it to extend its entertainments licence.

She claimed noise and anti-social behaviour from drunken revellers had forced several families to move away from Park Lane - and predicted more will now follow. Watermill manager Rob McNeill toasts the end of the long battle to alter the pub's entertainments licence and stay open longer.

The Watermill launched a bid to adopt nightclub-style opening hours in November 2001 - but it was dismissed by Wyre Forest District Council and the first appeal, heard by Kidderminster magistrates in April 2002, was also rejected.

In both hearings residents cited a catalogue of problems caused by drinkers using the road as a thoroughfare to the town's nightclubs including throwing bottles, foul-mouthed verbal abuse, damaging vehicles and urinating and defecating - as well as even having sex - in driveways.

However, Watermill manager Rob McNeill said there was demand for an entertainments extension until 1am on Thursdays and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays - from customers who do not want to move on to a nightclub environment.

"I listened to the residents' statements in court and I do feel for them," added Mr McNeill, who lives at the pub.

But he said "at no stage could it ever be proven" that the behaviour was connected to the Watermill and said he also has to regularly clear the car park of bottles and cans - some of which are not sold by the pub.

Following the successful appeal on the entertainments licence, the pub will now apply for permission to extend the hours in which it can sell food and alcohol.

Mrs Beavis, who has lived in Park Lane for 13 years, said 73 letters had been written against the bid, including some by people living elsewhere.

She said noise from the pub's music could sometimes be heard as far away as Aggborough.

"We hoped the appeal would be turned down. The council and magistrates both said 'no' so we thought the crown court would have said 'no' just on the back of that."

She said residents would now hold an emergency meeting to see whether they could block the pub's bid to extend its food and drink hours, pointing two new clubs are in line to open in Kidderminster as it is.

Mr McNeill said the pub was "definitely not trying to be a club".