Yesterday a Twickenham newsagents faced a licensing sub-committee over claims that it has been selling alcohol to underage children.

News and Booze at 62 Hampton Road has had its license reviewed after an Alcohol Test Purchase Operation on June 2 when an underage customer was sold alcohol after presenting a false ID on their phone.

The shop, and interested parties, will receive the results of the committee's decision within five working days.

PC John McGann, who was in charge of the Test Purchase Operation, began with a detailed outline of the case including complaints by local residents to the police about the shop selling alcohol to their underage children.

He discussed difficulties faced in obtaining CCTV footage from the shop, as owner Mr Sandip Singh Arora avoided providing a copy and then claimed the disk was corrupt. He said there have been a "trail of lies" from the license holder.

He highlighted that the proposed 25 license conditions are a huge number - more than any other licence-holding shop, or indeed pub, in the borough.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the shop has become a magnet for local young people who know that they can buy alcohol there under the age of 18.

PC McGann said: "We have to break the chain of this shop being seen as somewhere where they can buy alcohol."

He said that the protection of children from harm is the most important licensing objective, and argued he does not feel "any reassurance that anything will change".

He said: "I really have to question whether the DPS has learned his lesson."

The license holder, Mr Arora, who is 22 and has owned the shop for less than a year, admitted that he has made a mistake.

His representative said: "We are not disputing anything – we are saying yes Mr Arora he has made a mistake.

"He has agreed that there will be no lingering outside his shop.

"He has agreed to tighten up the restrictions with his shop.

"We will make sure the licensing objectives are robustly promoted."

In his closing remarks PC McGann said: "He has lost the trust of the local community and the police. I would urge you to revoke the premise's licence."

We will update you when we have more information on the outcome.