RESIDENTS have been given extra time to submit their objections to the opening of a controversial new wine bar in Woodford Broadway.

People living near The Vault now have until Christmas Day to make representations against the 150-capacity venue's alcohol licence application - which would allow it to serve booze from 11am until 11pm, seven days a week.

The deadline was extended by the council because of an alleged problem with the wording of the original application notice that was placed by the bar in local newspapers.

The extension has been welcomed by The Vault's opponents who claimed that its owners had not displayed an application notice on the property soon enough for them to lodge their objections before the original Friday, November 6 deadline.

Community campaigner, Geoff Seeff, who helped organise a 100 name petition against the application said: "This is really good news.

"This will give more people the opportunity to oppose this application.

"The level of opposition is very high. I just hope the views of residents are now taken into account."

The bar's developer, Peter Southgate was unavailable for comment.

When the Guardian ran its first story on the application he said: "This will be a top end traditional wine bar aimed at the over-25s market.

"It will be a basement bar so noise will be kept to a minimum. The idea is that this will be a place for couples to come to drink good wine and chat, not be drowned out by loud music.

"We made sure to display our licence application on the premises several weeks ago (before the original deadline), in line with council regulations.

"I would be happy to speak to any residents who are concerned about this in any way."