Councillors have unanimously given permission for a Warwick hotel to keep the renovations to its rear patio area, despite the protests of neighbours.

Phillipa Wilson told Warwick District Council's planning committee that the refurbished seating area at the Warwick Arms Hotel was having a major impact on her quality of life.

But councillors - who also imposed some conditions on how late the area can be used - agreed to approve the retrospective planning application for the High Street business.

"I suggest that this application is invalid. A change of use has occurred and it has gone unchallenged," Ms Wilson told the committee.

She also said neighbours were already "subjected to disturbance from the castle", and the patio area has caused "more noise pollution, suffering and emotional distress".

Some councillors had sympathy to the objections from neighbours, saying people using the patio area could create a lot of noise.

But other members pointed out the patio area was already in use before the renovations, and by putting in a new rule saying the patio is not used between 10pm and 7.30am, and no music is played outside, it would improve things.

"I would have sympathy with the difficulties of living next to a pub," said Cllr Lowell Williams. 

"But they do live next to a pub and the pub does have to go about its business. 

"So I am not clear about where we are in the planning issues here. Our issues are about whether pubs can make noise."

Having been told by council officers the new conditions had been agreed by Environmental Health and the hotel's owners, councillors unanimously approved the renovation works.