ACADEMICS as far as Lebanon and America have supported a campaign to block a shisha café in East Finchley.

Neighbours say the noise created by Oasis Café, in Church Lane, makes life “intolerable”.

They also say the smell from the “highly toxic” shisha pipes pose a health hazard to children who live in houses nearby.

The owners want to extend its outdoor area, where more than 40 people will be allowed to smoke shisha pipes, and remove the area’s current roof.

They have also asked Barnet Council for permission to stay open until 1.30am on weekends and 11.30pm on weekdays.

But Dr Mohammed Jawad, a public health specialist at Imperial College London, decided to write to councillors asking them to think twice.

He calculated that at peak use, it could be producing 4,600 litres of Shisha smoke in the air and asked them to consider the fact that it is near St Martin’s Primary School.

It has been signed by doctors in Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Cambridge.

Further afield, experts from two Lebanese universities, the University of Memphis and Harvard University have also voiced their support.

But despite 26 signatures, it can only be counted as one objection.

Matt Rudge, of Leopold Road, said: “It’s pretty amazing considering it’s about little old East Finchley – but to the experts it’s the tip of the iceberg.

“This is because of the highly cancerous Shisha smoke. Considering it’s been banned near homes in places such as UAE and Singapore, you can get why they might want to get involved in this.

“It’s so close to homes and especially kids. I doubt they get many objections to planning applications from Lebanon.”

Following advice from Environmental Health, planning officers will be reccomending that members of the committee reject this application.

The application is due to go to the planning committee meeting on November 26.