A licence compromise between a sports and social club and the residents which surround it has been reached after concerns were raised about noise.

The Viking Club, on Old High Street in Headington, had wanted a blanket licence to play live and recorded music until 11pm on weekdays and until 12am on Saturdays.

But following noise concerns from neighbours, Oxford City Council has limited the licence to allow events on 20 days during the year.

In the past the club had applied for a temporary licence for each event.

Stella Welford, of Friends of Old Headington, said: “There were a lot of concerns about it in the neighbourhood of the club. Friends of Old Headington objected to the application because the site is in the middle of the conservation area and we had concerns for our members and residents.”

Headington city councillor David Rundle attended the meeting and negotiated on behalf of residents.

He said: “There was a real concern within the community that the club that has been there for decades maybe about to change in character.

“That is not the case and it has been possible to get to a compromise both sides can live with.”

Conditions for the licence being granted include a limit on the number of times music can be played to 20 times a year and the club must tell Friends of Old Headington and Old High Street Neighbourhood Watch when they intend to do so.

One Old High Street resident, who would not be named, said: “The noise from amplified music has been a problem in the past.

“They have woken us up and in an old building you cannot play that level of music and expect it to be ignored. But I am pleased with the compromise.”

The Viking Sports Club is a members only club and has been going for more than 50 years. It has a number of sports teams affiliated to it.

Club secretary Natalie Brown had said that she didn’t think it would affect any of the club’s neighbours and that the music would not be loud.

She confirmed that the licence would allow the club to hold occasional discos and functions.

Kevin Masterson, the club chairman, said: “We are only a small social club.

“The issues with the residents have all been cleared up.”