PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has been given the green light to start serving drinks at its premises on Hereford's busy Commercial Road.

An appeal by West Mercia Police against allowing a third large pub between O'Neill's and the Litten Tree was defeated in a hearing at Hereford Shirehall.

And Wetherspoon's can now begin renovations at the former Kwik Save supermarket site. Groundwork has already been completed at the site.

It is the second time Wetherspoon's has been granted a licence in the face of opposition by the police.

Their objections centred on the implications for maintaining public order as Commercial Road becomes a recognised pub strip.

Commercial Road was named in a police report last year as Hereford's 'hot spot' of drink related disorder.

Wetherspoon Spokesman, Eddie Gershon, said after the hearing: "We are absolutely delighted to have been granted a licence for the new site in Hereford. We respect the views of the police but are pleased the licensing magistrates have made the decision they did.

"We are looking to start building work as soon as possible and we want to have the pub open by Christmas."

The as yet unnamed pub will create around 30 new and part-time jobs in the city.

Like all of Wetherspoon's 465 pubs around the country, the Hereford premises will be free from music and have a ban on pool tables.

About one third of the customer area will be designated for no-smoking, the pub will be wheelchair accessible and toilets adapted for use by disabled customers.

It will specialise in cask-conditioned beer, serving up to seven at all times from a range of brewers across the country.