AN ALCOHOL expert at Warrington hospital is worried about the impact a 6.30am weekend licence at the new Synergy club will have on drinkers.

Owners of the new club, in the former Mr Smith's building, are applying for a licence to open from 10pm to 4.30am on Sundays to Wednesdays, and 10pm to 6.30am on Thursdays to Saturdays.

"We don't know yet what effect it will have, but whenever it is a student night or a late opening in town we always get a lot of people coming in," said James Higgins, alcohol liaison nurse at the accident and emergency department of Warrington Hospital.

"Anecdotally, there has already been a slight increase in the number of people we see since the new 24-hour drinking hours came in," said Mr Higgins.

"The hours you see people coming in with directly alcohol-related injuries used to be 11pm to 2am. Now it is going on until five or six in the morning, and sometimes even up until 8am," he said.

Most of the people Mr Higgins deals with are in their 20s and 30s, but he has seen children as young as 14 with alcohol poisoning after drinking too much.

"For the average 15-year-old it only takes something like 10 units to cause toxicity, which can result in alcohol poisoning, coma or, potentially, death. That's only five pints," said Mr Higgins.

As alcohol liaison nurse, James is brought in to counsel anyone whose blood tests prove positive for alcohol when they come into the hospital. Only a handful of hospitals across the country have a dedicated nurse for alcohol abuse. More often than not the under age drinkers he sees are not from Warrington, but smaller and quieter towns.

Groups of teenagers travel into Warrington from areas such as Northwich because they know there are a lot of bars.

"On the whole, the pubs and clubs are very good at checking for ID but one or two always get through," he added.

Mr Higgins works with youth substance intervention group Phaze and the Alcohol and Drug Service to treat those who come into A&E when drunk - about six people a day, of whom many are aged 25 to 35.

Most people come in on Thursdays to Saturdays, with a small peak on Tuesday evenings which is traditionally student night in the town centre.

Synergy will be hosting a student night every Tuesday with cut price drinks.

A consultation on Synergy's opening hours closes on March 12. The club is due to open on March 14 under the opening hours of the former Mr Smith's Club.

A spokesman for Synergy told the Guardian previously: "Everyone has welcomed us with open arms because they know what this place did for the town before. It is a big investment.

"It's a big place and we'll have to get our customer service right."

He also confirmed that drinks will cost around £2.50.

If you are worried about drinking, call ADS on 428456.

l The youngest person James has seen with severe liver disease was 17. He died three years ago, having started drinking aged 12.

l The most he has witnessed someone drink was 260 units a day, or six and a half bottles of spirits.

l Excessive drinking alters your hormone levels and, in extreme cases, can cause men to grow breasts when female hormones build up in the liver.

l Drinking as a child changes the chemical balance of your brain and upsets the hormonal balance necessary for development of organs, muscles, the reproductive system and bones.

l The recommended maximum is four units a day for men and three for women.