POLICE fear a bid by a popular restaurant to increase its operating hours until midnight could lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Inspector Paul Crick of Sudbury police said there were already issues in the town’s Chilton Industrial Estate area.

He said the bid by McDonalds in Northern Road, Sudbury, to cease trading in refreshments at midnight rather than 11pm would increase the problems in the area.

In their application for the extension, Mardi Foods Limited, trading as McDonalds, said: “This restaurant understands that in extending our opening hours we have a duty to the local community and that we continue to protect our staff and customers from danger and harm.

“We believe that the systems we have in place are robust.

“We are eager to work in partnership will all responsible authorities.”

As well as the police, a number of residents living in the area have also objected to the application, which will be heard by Babergh District Council on May 20.

One of them, Ian Felstead, wrote to the council saying: “There is already evidence of increased vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the restaurant, especially late at night around closing time.

“Increasing opening hours can only serve to exacerbate this problem.”

Nearby Homebase has also objected.