Neighbours fear extended opening hours at a cricket club could cause an “immense nuisance”.

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club, in Totteridge Green, has applied to extend its hours from 11pm to 1am on weekend nights.

Alcohol will be sold until 12.30am and no objections were raised by the Metropolitan Police.

But people living nearby fear it will cause the club to become a “magnet” for late night drinking and noise.

Mervyn and Maja Nelson, of Greenway Close, Totteridge, said: “This is a quiet residential area and we don’t think that the cricket club should become a magnet for late night drinking and partying without restrictions.”

David Mason, of Totteridge Green, said: “I feel that the popularity and congestion of such a venue will cause immense local nuisance and will disrupt what is very much supposed to be a village cricket club and not a drinking destination for either members or visitors.”

Mary Kempster, of Willow End, Totteridge, said: “The club is situated in a quiet, almost secluded position and a late licence has the opportunity to spoil this for the residents who have chosen this area to live for the peaceful environment it promises.”

The owners say the later opening times will only be used occasionally.

In an application, they said: “We are a club where almost everyone knows each other and we don't usually have any trouble.

“We are in a secluded position, with no real through traffic and we know most, if not all of our neighbours and we have a good relation with them. On event nights our guests are made aware that we are in a quiet neighbourhood and to leave quietly.

“We do not want to upset the goodwill of our neighbours to be having late parties every weekend. It is only to have the option should we need it.”

The application will be discussed by Barnet council’s licensing sub-committee in Hendon Town Hall next Wednesday.