Off-licenses have licences suspended

4:36pm Monday 12th May 2008

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FOUR county off-licenses are to have their drinks licenses suspended for serving underage customers. Hereford’s M & G County Wines on Commercial Road will have their licence suspended for 48 hours; Ashby Stores on High Street in Kington for a week and two off-licences in Leominster, Bargate Spar and one in High Street, for 24 hours and seven days respectively.

The decision was made by Herefordshire Council’s regulatory sub-committee last Friday.

The suspensions, effective from May 31, were sought by police and followed two test purchases in each store in which 15 and 16 year-olds were sold alcohol.

The licensees have been given until the May deadline to appeal. Herefordshire Division’s Licensing Officer PC Steve Thomas said: “We hope that the decision to temporarily suspend licenses in these cases will make it abundantly clear this will simply not be tolerated.” Bromyard Kebab and Burger Shop in Cruxwell Street also had its opening hours amended by the committee after a violent fight took place on the premises on March 9 amid complaints it was still serving at 2.10am.