PUBS in Princes Risborough have given their backing to an appeal for a kebab van to feed hungry punters after closing time.

Five landlords have welcomed the town council's decision last week to ask Wycombe District Council to grant a street traders' licence to potential fast food stallholders.

Arnie Milham, 52, of Whiteleaf Cross, Market Square, said: "I would have said a kebab van was a necessity. You leave a pub and you want burgers and things, and there's nothing unless you want to spend a fortune on a Chinese."

Andy Saunders, 25, of High Street pub The George and Dragon, added: "Risborough is not a rowdy place, so noise won't be a problem. It gives people something to eat after hours after the pub shuts. Food isn't really something you can get here after 9pm."

The town council's decision to push for more fast food has been spearheaded by vice-chairman Cllr Gary Hall, who has campaigned for more fast food sellers in the town for several years. He told Midweek: "We have not had any kind of fast food in the town for about five years now. All the other towns around have things like that, but Risborough misses out."

Risborough had a kebab van in Horns Lane until the street trader's licence for the town was withdrawn by Wycombe District Council several years ago, on the recommendation of the town council.

Concerns have been voiced in the town over the amount of litter which could be generated by a kebab van, and over the possibility that it could take trade from existing food sellers. But the town council has said it would ask for any street trading licence to be granted for a trial period, so that it could monitor the situation.

Annie Davies, 28, landlady at the Bird in Hand, Station Road, said: "From what I've heard it's meant to be after 11 o'clock at night, so that won't take any trade away from us, which is our main concern."