Councillors have rejected a pub’s plans to host rival football fans before a memorial match amid crime and safety concerns – but says the event could still go ahead.

The Two Tubs, based at The Wylde in Bury town centre, submitted an application for a temporary event notice (TEN) to accommodate fans attending a Lee Rigby Memorial Cup match on Saturday, June 24.

The match, which is being organised in part by the pub, will be held in memory of Lee Rigby, a 25-year-old Fusilier soldier from Crumpsall who was murdered in London 10 years ago.

A decade on from his passing, Gigg Lane will be hosting a Lee Rigby Memorial Cup match between a North West "superstars" team and a Rangers select side at 3pm on the day.

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Organisers from the Two Tubs hope to welcome football fans before the match ahead of a military band which would lead a procession from the town centre to Gigg Lane.

They have requested their opening hours to be expanded to allow the pub to open from 9am until 10pm.

At a council licensing hearing sub committee hearing on Thursday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) licensing officer PC Peter Ecclestone explained why he has objected to the pub plans, citing concerns that the event will breach the venue's licensing objectives, increase the potential for crime and undermine public safety.

He said: “GMP made representation over concern at this event, we have serous concerns this event would undermine the licensing objectives.

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“Although this event has been organised with the best of intentions it looks like 5,000 Rangers fans will descend on Bury town centre.

“A large number of these supports will be drinking alcohol from the early hours of the morning.”

Two Tubs licence holder Leah Towers said six security staff will be present at the pub at all times to control crowds but that she did not expect any animosity between rival fans.

She said: “In the past there has been no issues with local fans and rangers fans, but that’s still a possibility, its unlikely as it is a friendly match.

“We are flexible on hiring more security and stewards.”

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Committee chair, Cllr Gavin McGill, said the TEN at the pub would be rejected in its current form on the grounds the application could not guarantee the safety of people attending the match.

“We believe the TEN doesn’t support the licensing objectives,” he said.

However, he added that the event at the pub is one that is highly anticipated and said it could still go ahead if the concerns raised by GMP and the council were addressed.

Cllr McGill added: “Although we have issued a counter notice we recognise people want this to go ahead and we can work to allow this to go ahead.

“We don’t think the issues are insurmountable.”