Plans to shake-up the UK's drinking laws have seen the government suffer a narrow House of Lords defeat.

Opposition peers say plans to allow round-the-clock drinking threaten to make the lives of people living near pubs a misery.

The Lords is continuing to debate the Licensing Bill in its committee stage on Monday.

Ministers were defeated when peers voted by 112 to 111 to allow local councillors, MPs and MEPs to object formally to all-night drinking applications.

Tory and Liberal Democrat peers argued the bill put too much burden on residents to object to plans, rather than having their case taken up by politicians.

Complaints worries

Earlier, Conservative peer Baroness Buscombe complained the bill stripped responsibility for licensing away from local magistrates.

Instead, licensing powers would be left with local councils, she said.

At the same time, argued Lady Buscombe, councils and local residents were losing some of their rights to object to plans for new pubs and restaurants.

The Lib Dems are also demanding stronger protection for residents.

Lib Dem peer Lord Redesdale said his party wanted the UK to have a more responsible approach to nightlife.

"But we must make sure that there are strong safeguards to prevent the general public suffering from some of the drunken excesses we have seen in our inner cities," he said.

"An overwhelming amount of concern has been expressed by people who have suffered broken nights' sleep from noise nuisance caused by people leaving pubs and clubs."