Late night revellers could soon take to the rooftops in Bedford, after plans were lodged at the Town Hall for an open-air smoking area at Oxygen nightclub.

The Midland Road nightspot has applied to Bedford Borough Council for permission to open up its roof to punters, in response to the smoking ban in public places which will take effect from July 1.

However, there is no detail as yet on how many revellers will be allowed on the roof or what will be done to reduce noise.

David Ward is a spokesman for the Midland Area Residents Alliance, whose members live around Oxygen nightclub.

He said: "We simply don't know what this will mean – we have not seen any details. Oxygen want an open area for smokers, and we have heard there will be an acoustic screen, but that is all we know.

"We have no idea how many people will be on this smoking area, whether it will be 20 people or 200.

"If there are too many then this will be a nightmare for residents. And given that the club has the capacity for 1,200 people, then it could be a sizeable area with many people on it."

It is believed the rooftop area at Oxygen would be monitored by a registered door supervisor, with no drinks allowed on the terrace.

There could be also be a lift installed at the club, to give access to the smoking area.

Mr Ward added: "When people have had a few drinks they are often louder and more boisterous. People enjoying themselves and having a laugh will make noise regardless of any anti-social behaviour.

"We aren't panicking, but we need to have more information to have any idea what this will mean for us."

Open-air smoking sections could become more common at pubs and similar venues over the next year, when smoking becomes banned in virtually all public places.

A planning application was entered this month by Triple G's Leisure, to open a snooker club above the Litten Tree pub in Bedford High Street.

That application also includes plans for a smoking area on its terrace, overlooking two cark parks at the rear of the pub.

Paul Dawson, landlord of The Rose public house in Bedford High Street, was reasonably confident that the new law would not cause trouble locally.

He said: "We already have a beer garden here, so it will not affect us as much as some other pubs. And it will be most difficult for nightclubs.

"I know there are worries about people causing trouble in the street when they step outside for a smoke. But with the late licences that many pubs now have, you don't get the flashpoints of everyone spilling out at the same time onto the High Street.

"Policing the law in its early stages will be interesting. But at least it is being introduced in the summer, giving everyone time to get used to smoking outside."