A GROVE shop has been banned from selling alcohol after staff repeatedly served under-18s.

Community leaders have welcomed the news that McColls, in Millbrook Square, has had its liquor licence removed.

Magistrates confirmed the Vale of the White Horse District Council’s decision to withdraw the shop’s licence, after staff were caught selling alcohol to 14- and 15-year-olds five times during tests carried out by council officers and police between July 2003 and August last year.

Magistrates were not confident that the shop could prevent any further underage sales, and refused to overturn the licensing committee’s decision, said a council spokesman.

This is the first time the council has revoked a shop’s alcohol sales licence.

Grove Parish Council chairman Frank Parnell said: “If they will insist on selling it without the proper controls, then they deserve to have their licence taken away. It’s totally irresponsible.

“We have a lot of problems around that area with underage drinking, and selling alcohol to youngsters only exacerbates the problem. The rules are there for a reason.”

Wantage and Grove youth worker Garry Kingett said: “It’s only right and proper that we should make it as difficult as possible for young people to get alcohol.

“Underage drinking is increasing, not decreasing, and young people will try whatever’s necessary to get their hands on alcohol. It was very irresponsible of the shop.”

Representatives from McColls appeared at Didcot Magistrates’ Court last Monday to appeal against the council’s decision.

But magistrates agreed the shop had committed a “grave breach” of its licence and that the councillors’ decision was correct.

Six test purchasing operations were jointly carried out by licensing officials from the district council, Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards department and the police. The store passed just one test, in May last year, but failed the final one in August last year.

Richard Farrell, the district council’s executive member for licensing, said: “In selling alcohol to those under the age of 18, McColls not only repeatedly broke the law but continually let the local community down.

“The failure to adhere to licensing laws or implement changes required by the licensing conditions demonstrates that the shop clearly put profit before the health and well-being of young people in the area, which is totally unacceptable.

“Hopefully other shops will take this as a serious warning that selling alcohol to those under 18 will not be tolerated.”

Thames Valley Police licensing officer Tony Cope said: “Underage drinking is a serious issue, that needs to be dealt with robustly.”

McColls’ store manager refused to comment on the court’s decision.