PLANS to turn the former Regal Cinema, in Cowley Road, Oxford, into the biggest live music venue in the city have been rejected.

Solarview - led by by Charlie McCreedy and Adam Marsh, pictured - wanted the site to be a 1,700 capacity venue staging events including live music, conferences, wedding receptions and tea dances.

But protesters, led by the vicar of St Mary and St John, the Rev Adam Romanis, feared the proposal would lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour.

Mr Romanis said: "That kind of stuff is going on in our area all the time, we see it and we live with it. This should be an area of tranquillity.

"How do you make use of a venue that size in an area likes ours? To be honest that's their problem, but what we are clearly saying is that they are barking up the wrong tree."

Solarview has 21 days in which to appeal to magistrates against yesterday's decision. Last night it was unclear whether the company would do so.