CUSTOMERS at an East Lothian pub have been accused of singing "vile" sectarian songs amid concerns it has withdrawn from a local anti-social behaviour scheme.

The Green, in Haddington, which has recently changed its name to The Railway, has applied for a change to its licence to allow it to operate a pool table in the premises.

But a report to councillors on East Lothian’s Licensing Board will raise concerns from the council’s licensing standards officer over the pub's decision to withdraw from a local Pub Watch scheme and concerns it could mean patrons barred from other premises being allowed entry.

A report to next Thursday’s board meeting by licensing officer calls for the premises manager to be told to rejoin the Pub Watch group as a condition of being allowed to introduce the pool table, which she says could change the "atmosphere and character" of the pub and potentially make it unsuitable for children.

She says: “It concerns me that the premises has elected to withdraw from Pub Watch and may be admitting patrons that are barred from other premises due to their behaviour.”

She added that in August this year a complaint on behalf of neighbours of the pub was received through a local councillor in relation to noise  including the alleged “singing of sectarian songs and noise from karaoke”.

A letter of objection lodged with the application from a neighbour also raised the issue, saying there had been “singing of vile sectarian football songs”.

She adds in her report that the pub recently changed its name from The Green back to its former name The Railway but had not applied for permission from the licensing board to make the change.

The board will hear the application at a meeting next Thursday, September 28.

A spokesperson for the Railway Hotel said: “Since taking on the pub in the past year we have been working hard to make it a community hub that is welcoming for all.

"We were made aware of an incident over the summer involving chanting in our outside area, which we completely condemn, and we took immediate steps to address this and there have been no similar incidents reported since.

"We are focused on making sure the Railway Hotel is a responsible and friendly pub, playing an important role in the Haddington community.”