HUDDERSFIELD nightclub Rhythms in Indigo will close after councillors refused to renew its public entertainment licence.

Kirklees Council Licensing and Safety Committee made the decision at a meeting yesterday , after complaints from residents living near the club.

Residents of flats at John William Court - only yards from the nightclub on Northumberland Street - claim it is too noisy.

Until the flats were built in 2003, Rhythms in Indigo had enjoyed a trouble-free two years.

However, complaints began in November 2003 about the loud bass noise from the club's powerful sound system.

The system was a draw for reggae, drum 'n' bass and house artists from around the world.

However, one of the residents was at Monday's meeting and told councillors how the club's noise kept her awake until the early hours of the morning.

Officers from Kirklees Environment and Transportation Service agreed the noise was too loud and served the club with a noise abatement order last February.

Despite this, the club's licence was renewed last July, on condition that its noise should be inaudible inside nearby noise-sensitive buildings.

Licensee Emma Mortimer and manager Donna Sylvester spent £7,000 sound-proofing the club.

However, complaints continued and in November, Miss Mortimer and Miss Sylvester were asked to sign acceptable behaviour contracts, ordering them not to cause a noise nuisance or face being given anti-social behaviour orders.

So they downgraded their sound system and cancelled drum 'n' bass and reggae nights which need loud bass.

Miss Mortimer and Miss Sylvester say this has lost them around £35,000 as trade has dwindled.

Miss Sylvester said: "If we reduce the system any further it will be off. We have killed the atmosphere so much that numbers have gone from 400 - a full club - to 70 or 80 people.

"We thought with the club being there first that the builders would have put in precautions for noise.

"We appreciate that at first the system was loud, but we have reduced it so much. It has ruined the business, our lives and lost 12 people their jobs."

Miss Mortimer added: "We are not purposely breaching the rules. We are trying everything in our power."

Although the club will soon close, the pair have lodged an appeal against the licence refusal.

This will allow them to remain open for 21 days - enough time to hold five more events in a bid to make some money to mitigate their losses and pay creditors.

The first of these will be on Friday - a Back To School fancy dress night staged on behalf of community radio station Unique FM.

If the music causes more complaints, both women will have breached their acceptable behaviour contracts and proceedings could start for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders against them.

Miss Mortimer

said: "It's pointless carrying on long term. But we have invested our money and our family's money. We just want to go on until the first week in February to have farewell nights and get some money back.

"It's more than just closing a club. We are closing a whole scene - a part of the history of the town."