A POPULAR Malvern bar is under threat from a planning application.

London-based Mountside Estates, which owns the Vaults at Worcester Road, Link Top, wants to convert it into flats.

The pub hit the headlines a few weeks ago, when manager Karl Crangle was given a licence to open until 3am and to hold lap-dancing events.

Mr Crangle, who has run the bar for over a year, declined to comment. But customers have voiced their outrage at the proposal.

Chris Francis, of Dryden Close, said: "There are a lot of people who like this place, because it's something different for Malvern. It's become very popular since Karl started running it."

Mr Francis has started a petition and hopes to collect hundreds of signatures opposing the application. He is also leafleting local residents, asking for support.

"There's the disruption of all the building work and when it's finished there will be more cars parked on the side of the road," he said.

Louise Poole, of Cotswold Road, said: "I really like this place. It would be a real shame if they let some hot-shot developer come in and take it away from us."

The application to Malvern Hills District Council shows the existing building converted to three apartments, a new three-storey building in the garden for more flats and three small houses in the car park, forming a terrace facing Oxford Road.

Mark Haslam, of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: "Our main concern is the current loss of community pubs in Malvern. It's our view that Malvern has one of the highest population-to-pub ratios of any town in Britain."

Jonny Berman, of Mountside Estates, said they were trying to conclude a tenancy deal with Mr Crangle and the application was a "backstop".