A NIGHTCLUB wants to open longer at weekends to cope with an influx of drinkers from eastern Europe.

The Broadwalk, in Bridge Street, wants to open until 5am on Friday and Saturday.

In recent months the club's fortunes have been transformed by a growing number of regulars from eastern Europe.

Signs inside are in Polish, some bar staff speak the language and Polish theme nights are now run at the venue.

Now the club wants to extend its opening hours from 2am to 5am at weekends, but police have objected.

Police licensing manager Geoff Hicks, pictured, wrote to Swindon Council's licensing panel objecting to the later opening.

In his letter he said that violence and anti-social behaviour in the town centre rises after 2am when the police are at their most stretched.

He also said that police were being called to deal with incidents at the venue more often.

Although there was only one call in June, none in July and one in August, there were four calls in September and three more in the first two weeks of October.

"The trade at The Broadwalk has been relatively modest over a long period of time but over recent months certain factions of the eastern European community have adopted' the venue," he said.

"The police view is that this is a result of an unruly element who have been excluded from the majority of the other venues in the town centre due to their behaviour.

"This application is believed to capitalise on this previously unforeseen increase in custom.

"The police have genuine concern regarding the disorderly behaviour of the customer base which has started to frequent these premises and the ability of management and staff to control them."

Lionel Starling, the licensing manager at Swindon Council, prepared a report for councillors on the application.

In this report he said although some migrants get in fight so do locals and some problems will be blamed wrongly on newcomers.

A spokesman for owner Fullers said: "We have applied for a 5am licence and we have a hearing next week.

"We are talking to the police and other local stakeholders as to how and when the venue would trade if successful."

Swindon Council's licensing panel will debate the application on Tuesday at 11am.