A SOUTHAMPTON nightclub blamed for creating rowdy behaviour in a residential area has had its music and dance licence chopped to six months instead of a year.

The Academy in Lower Banister Street told members of the licensing committee it had done all it could to encourage revellers to be quiet when hitting the streets at 2am.

But resident campaigner Lorraine Barter produced video footage that showed drunken young people shouting and screaming in the streets around the club.

The solicitor representing Bass Leisure who run the Academy, Stephen Drake, said an offer by the management to meet with residents had not been taken up.

He said no complaints had been received by the club from residents and police had not objected to the renewal of the licence.

He called chartered surveyor Raymond Hoffmeister to give evidence on the make-up of the area and to give reasons for the unruliness.

Mr Hoffmeister said 80 per cent of the properties around the Bedford Place area were now in multiple occupation - mostly to students.

He also said take-aways that were trading until 3am - some of which had no late night licence - were contributing to the problems in the area.

Mr Drake said the Academy could not deny that some of its customers were rowdy on the streets - but all the blame could not rest with the club.

"A small number may be contributing to the noise. The Academy can't stop noise in the street - they can encourage customers to have regard to local people," he said.

Mr Drake told the panel they could opt for a six-month licence and could impose conditions.

At the end of the five-and-a-half-hour long hearing, chairman of the licensing committee, Councillor Bill Kearns announced the licence would be renewed for six months and the situation would be monitored.

"There is some evidence of disturbance caused by patrons of the Academy but we are not satisfied there is enough direct evidence to support any other decision on this occasion," he said.

Cllr Kearns recommended the club organised meetings with residents to try to resolve problems of late night revellers.