COUNCILLORS have revoked the premises licence for a shop keeper following a series of breaches.

The licensing sub-committee of Durham County Council met on Tuesday to review the Balraj Singh Takhar’s licence at Vine Stores on Middle Street in Blackhall.

Concerns had been been raised about whether Mr Takhar has been complying with the terms of his licence regarding the sale of alcohol.

An inspection found no training of staff for the supply of alcohol, which was placed near stocks of confectionary making it attractive to young people, and there was no evidence of a refusal register.

But his solicitor, Sarbjit Singh Lalli, said there was no suggestion he had been serving alcohol to underage customers, had not been caught in a test purchase operation and had kept a log of people who had been refused service.

He said: “This is a man who does take his responsibilities seriously.”

The meeting was told trading standards officers found counterfeit tobacco products beneath the floorboards.

A total of 4,540 cigarettes and 1.45kg of hand rolling tobacco was recovered.

Councillor Linda Marshall, the committee chairwoman, said: “We have listened to the representations that have been made but we find that the flagrant breaches lead us to revoke the licence.”