A popular Indian restaurant and bar is applying to extend its opening times until 2.30am at weekends.

The licensing application was submitted last week by Red Mantra, in George Lane, South Woodford.

Red Mantra, which serves a range of contemporary Indian dishes in a tapas style, opened in 2009 after the closure of Mediterranean eatery Tuus.

Back in February 2010 the establishment, described as an 'Indian tapas bar and lounge', was granted a licence to stay open until 12:30am from Sunday to Thursday and until 1:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Now the bar has submitted a fresh licence application to extend the weekend closing times by one hour, taking it to 2.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.

A condition included by the applicant is to make an incident book available to all staff of every customer excluded from the premises.

The venue also holds a licence for live music acts until 11pm.

The closing date for comments on the licence proposal is August 20.