Londis, in Market Square, Dover, has had its alcohol licence suspended for a month after serving booze to drunk customers outside of permitted hours.

The suspension began last Friday following a review hearing on the convenience store called by Kent Police, supported by Dover Town Council.

When the licence suspension stops, the store will be able to sell alcohol from 9am instead of 6am.

In June last year a licensing officer investigated an incident where a heavily intoxicated man was served alcohol by Londis after the police had just taken drink from him in an alcohol control zone.

Londis was issued with a penalty notice for disorder.

Then in August Londis was found to be serving alcohol before its licence hour of 6am but as this breach was only a matter of minutes, the store was issued with a warning.

In November a licensing officer was told of a further sale before 6am and an investigation found two breaches on two consecutive days.

As a result of these and the previous warning, the license was reviewed.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “This review was supported by the town council. The committee heard all the evidence and among other conditions, imposed a one month suspension and moved their sale of alcohol time from the existing 6am to 9am. There is a right to appeal so until that point the premises can continue to sell alcohol from 6am.”

Town Mayor Pam Brivio, who spoke for Dover Town Council at the hearing, said:

'We are delighted that the statutory authorities are finally listening to the people of Dover' - town Mayor, Pam Brivio

“We are delighted that the statutory authorities are finally listening to the people of Doverand acting to reduce the incidence of alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour and social problems in the town.

“The town council has been asking DDC for two years to manage the availability of off-licence sales more responsibly and we are pleased that the police have finally produced evidence to support our calls for action.”

The licensing committee was comprised of councillors Bill Gardiner, Bernard Butcher and Pip Russell.

It was discussed again on Monday at a town council planning meeting where full support was reinstated by the councillors.

The item on the meeting’s agenda shows that the store has re-applied for its licence from 6am to midnight, seven days a week with “some seasonal variations”.