A STORE owner has won back his drinks licence after satisfying police that alcohol will not be sold to under-age customers.

Mark Stephen Jamieson lost the licence for Londis General Dealer, in Tow Law, after failing a police supervised "test purchase".

Bishop Auckland magistrates revoked it after an application by Durham Police.

Mr Jamieson has since undergone a course, trained his staff on licensing regulations, and put in place new systems at the High Street store.

His appeal against revocation of the licence was unopposed by police, at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

Recorder Jeffrey Lewis said he was impressed with 40-year-old Mr Jamieson's "impeccable background".