A controversial bar which residents say has made their lives a misery has appealed against a decision to slash its opening hours.

Funky Mojoe in South Woodford High Road was ordered to shut at 11.30pm on weekends by a Redbridge Council licensing committee last month following a deluge of complaints and numerous violent incidents.

But the decision will now be reviewed by Barkingside Magistrates' Court after the nightspot's legal team appealed the decision.

Pending the outcome of the hearing the club is still allowed to stay open until its current licensed closing time of 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Residents living nearby said they were not surprised by the latest legal challenge.

Funky Mojoe has been subject to several council license hearings since it opened in 2008, and has been largely successful in fighting previous council attempts to cut its hours.

Later that year the council ordered a weekend closing time of 1am, but the club was allowed to stay open until 3am until an appeal was heard.

But in 2011 the authority reached a compromise of 2.30am, denying residents their day in court.

Campaigner Barry Van Loen, 68, who lives in Tempus Court opposite Funky Mojoe, said: "The place is a nightmare. All we are asking for is some peace and quiet for the people of South Woodford in this very residential area.

"We've fought long and hard and we'll have to continue fighting until we get it."

Lynda Edwards, who lives in the Manor Court Lodge sheltered housing block next door, added: "It's like a Catch-22 situation because whenever the council tells them to cut their hours they just appeal. It's not a surprise but we won't give up."

The licence hearing heard evidence of numerous incidents of anti-social behaviour, including CCTV played to councillors of a brawl outside the club and an apparent hit-and-run.

Funky Mojoe lawyer David Dadds walked out of the hearing when his request to postpone the hearing was turned down. He also claimed that the council had not followed proper procedure.

Ward councillor Hugh Cleaver said: "I'm hoping the council will stick to its guns this time but unfortunately it's not something that is up to me to decide.

"I think the decision of the council last time [in 2011] not to fight it was not a wise one and only delayed the cost in the long-run".

The Guardian is awaiting a comment from Funky Mojoe representatives, Redbridge Council and Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith, who has joined the campaign calling for its hours to be cut.