The police are getting behind plans to reopen a community centre bar - just days after another club based in the premises had its licence revoked.

Thames Valley Police took the East Oxford Social Club, which until April ran the bar inside the centre, to a licensing review over concerns about drug use on the premises.

Licensing chiefs withdrew its club licence last Tuesday.

Now East Oxford's police chief, Insp Brian Cooper, said he would support East Oxford Community Association - a separate organisation which runs the centre but, until now, has not been involved in the bar - in its bid to get its licence changed.

Mr Cooper said: "There was a cannabis problem in the premises when it was being run by the social club and, although they did not have a premises any more, I felt it was important their club premises licence was withdrawn because of that issue.

"My intention has never been to remove a community facility, purely to put in place the appropriate management, so I will be supporting the community association's application."

Mr Cooper was hopeful the application, which is also supported by the Nightsafe partnership, would be successful and said he was confident the association would be able to manage the bar responsibly.

He said: "I think it is extremely important this facility continues to run because there are a lot of groups that use the premises that will want to hold events with alcohol.

"I have found the association to be responsible and willing to work with us towards the licensing objectives."

During visits to the club prior to the social club's eviction, drugs dogs indicated customers had drugs on them or had been using them.

On one occasion someone was found with cannabis.

Edward Pope, treasurer of the social club, said he was disappointed by the decision and the club was considering appealing.

He said: "We did not see that we were tolerating drug use. I think it is fair to say a high proportion of our members are cannabis users, but I do not think they were bringing it into the club."

All the social club's 550 members are being sent community association membership forms to offer them the opportunity to stay involved.

Association chairman Sarah Lasenby said: "We now have a working group to plan future events, if we get the licence, and this group consists of people from the former social club as well as people from the association."

Oxford Nightsafe manager Karen Crossan said: "This is an important facility for the community, which will be better with one committee running it, rather than two separate organisations in the same building."