A convenience store wants a licence to sell booze until the early hours of the morning – despite police concerns the move could fuel crime.

Waltham Abbey Express, in Farm Hill Road, Waltham Abbey, wants to extend its licensed hours to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Epping Forest councillors will decide next week if the shop should be allowed to sell alcohol for an hour-and-a-half longer than its current 12.30am licenced closing time on weekends.

However, the application will be formally opposed by Essex Police, who say the store staying open later than 1am could potentially lead to “crime and disorder” in the area.

In a letter to Epping Forest Council, the force’s Epping and Brentwood Licensing Officer, Peter Jones, said: “The premises is on a main road in close proximity to residential premises.

“A high percentage of passing trade in the early hours is likely to be people on their way home from licensed premises in the town centre, many of which close at midnight and 1am.

“If applied hours were granted, alcohol at off-licence prices would be available to those who had already consumed a large amount and there would be a tendency for groups to meet and consume alcohol on the street.

“The consequential noise and disturbance would cause a public nuisance and potential crime or disorder.”

The council has also received 10 formal objections from members of the public to the plans.

One of the objectors, Michael Meaney, wrote: “I have been a resident near this shop since 2013.

“I have noticed on numerous occasions, incidences of late night noise, loud, aggressive shouting in the street, inconsiderate, dangerous driving and parking, slamming of car doors, breaking glass and littering.

“I associate those matters with the existing late night opening of this off licence.

“I believe that any extension of opening hours late into the night would only prolong the nuisance connected with this shop.”

Epping Forest Council’s licensing sub-committee will rule on whether or not to allow the store to extend its opening hours at a meeting on Tuesday (January 9).