VISITORS to the clubhouse bar on the Recreation Ground in Ilminster will soon be able to drink all day at weekends.

The bar's management team last week won the support of Ilminster Town Coun-cil to change its opening hours.

There has been rowdiness at the clubhouse recently and anti-social behaviour at the ground in Canal Way, which is used by the town's football and cricket teams, but councillors have backed plans for longer opening times at weekends.

The club originally applied for permission to open from 10am to midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Until now it has opened at 11.30am, shut at 1.30pm and re-opened at 3.30pm, but with the well-documented problems surrounding a recent football festival at the site still troubling some councillors they agreed that the bar could start serving at 11.30am and open until midnight.

Councillors voted against the proposed 10am opening, but backed 11.30am.

Cllr David Miller said the football club would have to learn from the cricket club if it was to be given the go-ahead for festivals in the future.