A cafe has been granted permission to extend its opening hours despite objections from residents.

The Green Owl Cafe, in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, will now be able to open until 11.30pm after a district planning committee vote.

Owner of the cafe, Marc Linch, 42, said: “I’m very pleased we can now open later and we’ll look at our options after Christmas.

“We might decide just to open for one off events or we may do something more permanent.

“I’m glad we can now compete with the bigger chains in the street so far as when we are allowed to open.”

Initial opposition to plans came from neighbours of the business, with several families in Princes Road, which the Cafe backs on to, writing letters to the council.

The letters expressed concern over potential “significant noise disturbance” but no representations were made at last week’s meeting.

The cafe will not be allowed to play any amplified music after 8pm and is not allowed to erect any children’s play equipment in the garden area following complaints about noise from children at the nearby Costa Coffee site.