TEMPERATE young police officers are calling time on their station's licensed bar.

With drink sales not even covering bar staff wages, the club at Stockton Police Station is being wound up.

Club secretary PC Bill Hall said gone are the days of "bulk'' beer sales at the bar.

He said it is a change in social attitudes and generations.

"The young ones will stand with the same bottle for one- and-a-half hours while they chat. They are socialising, but not buying bulk," said PC Hall. "The main beers are there, but it is the bottles which are selling.''

Gone are the days when a shift system had to be introduced to man a busy bar, which was not only open every night of the week, but on odd afternoons, too.

PC Hall said: "Now, we are just ticking over each night. Takings do not cover the wages.

"Bar staff arrive at 8pm and may not see a customer until ten o'clock when one or two will come in, have a drink and filter away home. When it's a busy night on the streets the bar staff have only taken the price of a packet of crisps

"The police club in years gone by was where police officers could relax in com-pany."

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Because there are not enough people using the club, it has been decided it will close on September 2.''

PC Hall who has 27 years in the police service, will retire the following week.