RESIDENTS fear gangs of youths and drunken yobs will make their lives a misery after a Hampshire filling station was given the go-ahead for a 24-hour convenience store.

Police and councillors joined the battle to stop Esso renewing its licence to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight and hot food and drink all night at Greatbridge Service Station in Romsey.

However, they lost the fight at a meeting of Test Valley Borough Council's licensing sub-committee.

Residents are claiming their views have been ignored.

Ward councillor Sally Lamb broke down in tears as she attempted to convey the depth of opposition to the application.

She said: "The objectors have shown that in the last few years there has been endless crime and antisocial behaviour in the area, including fights, screaming, threats to residents, urinating in public, used and discarded condoms, foul language and property stolen from residential housing and industrial units.

"Bottles, cans and rubbish are left in the area from bags clearly displaying the Esso logo."

Esso is planning to build the 2,000 sq ft convenience store on its garage forecourt.

Neighbours claim the 24-hour cafe facility included in the plans will become a meeting place for rowdy youths and drunken revellers on the way back from the pub.

But after lengthy deliberation, sub-committee chairman Anthony Hope announced that the licence should be renewed subject to CCTV cameras being provided by the company.

Throughout the hearing, Esso representative Roy Light maintained that the store would have a positive impact on the community and that staff would be trained to handle antisocial situations.

He denied the company's presence encouraged high levels of antisocial behaviour.

He said: "Everything that can be done will be done to ensure it is well-run.

"If we were talking about a 2,000-capacity nightclub it would be different. But we are not - we are talking about a filling station with a shop."