MORE than 20 jobs will be created after a new cafe and bar was given the go ahead to open at Kendal's troubled K-Village complex.

A licence to sell alcohol has been approved for Cafe Terrazzo and will become the first new outlet since the Lound Road building was bought out of administration earlier this year.

Philip Rhodes and his wife Karen, who run a Grange-over-Sands based catering company, will now overhaul the former Moes Grill unit to bring a slice of the Mediterranean to Kendal - creating 24 new jobs.

The decision was made by South Lakeland District Council's sub-licensing committee despite concerns from residents on the other side of the River Kent over night-time noise.

Mr Rhodes told the committee: "We are getting a lot of help from the new owners to help rejuvenate the centre. It is not my plan to add another drinking den to Kendal.

"We are not the same beast that was there before."

Eight nearby residents turned out at the Kendal Town Hall hearing and complained about the potential for noise keeping them awake at night, with one bed and breakfast owner saying it could lead to bankruptcy.

Yvonne Cosler, who runs the eight-bedroomed Lyndhurst Guest House, on South Road, said: "Evidence and past experience has shown that my livelihood will be at risk if this goes through.

"Unfortunately, we are in a day and age where within the tourism industry everything goes through review websites where people can instantly launch an attack against hospitality businesses.

"Even with the best intentions of the business across the river, all it needs is someone to say that my B and B is opposite a nightclub and the implications would be bankruptcy."

Tina Ford, a resident of South Road, said: "I would like to see K-Village survive and thrive but not to the extent that it's going to ruin my life and stop me sleeping.

"I don't want to be a prisoner in my own home where I dare not open my windows and go to sleep because I know I will be woken up by noise."

Members granted the licence after 20 minutes discussion.

Conditions imposed include closing to the public by midnight, stopping selling alcohol at 11pm and banning people from eating or drinking on the riverside terrace after 10pm.