Pubs have been barred from late-night Bank Holiday boozing by Bradford councillors - so residents can get a good night's sleep before work the next day.

Three Bradford pubs have so far been barred from opening late on Bank Holiday Mondays and Bradford's licensing committee has warned others could follow.

The applications by the pubs in Apperley Bridge, Allerton and Idle to open until midnight or 12.30am on Bank Holiday Mondays were turned down by Bradford licensing panel this week.

Chairman, Councillor Colin Gill, said the majority of people in the residential areas around the pubs went back to work on the Tuesday. "Members have been concerned that residents should be able to get a good night's sleep," he added.

He said the issue would be considered in relation to similar applications going before the panel which was "minded" to block late openings on Bank Holiday for neighbourhood pubs. However he stressed each application would be considered on its merits and there was no blanket rule.

The move has been welcomed by police and the courts who fear an increase in complaints over drunken behaviour as 600 of the district's pubs apply for permission to open longer.

West Yorkshire Police Authority vice-chairman, Councillor Clive Richardson (Con, Thornton and Allerton), said: "Some additional hours on Bank Holidays which are not followed by working days I can understand. But it isn't fair in residential areas where people have to go to work. It is known that later opening attracts non-residents and there is a proven link between drink and crime. I support the views of the panel."

Inspector Steve Baker, of Bradford South Police, said: "We don't want to be allowing opening times to be extended if they are going to be an inconvenience and a problem to the local community."

The George & Dragon Hotel in Apperley Bridge; Prince of Wales Inn, Allerton, and Springfield Hotel, Idle, were given permission to extend their opening times during the week and on other special days and Bank Holidays. But applications for an extension on Bank Holiday Monday nights were refused.

Today Apperley Bridge and Idle Liberal Democrat ward councillor Jeanette Sunderland welcomed the refusal of the Bank Holiday Monday extra hour.

She said: "The question of extending the hours is a big issue for people living close to the premises. People do have to get up on the morning after Monday Bank Holidays and it's a concern for both employers and employees."

But Tony Payne, West Yorkshire chairman of the Licensed Victuallers Association, said there was a long tradition of Bank Holiday drinking in Bradford.

He said: "It surprises me the application has been refused when permission was given to extend opening hours during the week. I don't know the history of these three pubs, but if they have been allowed extensions in the past and things have gone off peacefully, I can't understand why they would object to it now."