Police trying to close down the borough's busiest nightclub have been accused of "spinning" and giving "misleading" evidence at a hearing to determine the venue's future.

At Sutton Council's licensing sub committee meeting this week, councillors heard the legal team representing Wonderland claim police officers had exaggerated evidence to "support a pre-conceived conclusion" that the club should lose its licence.

Sarah Clover, the barrister for the club told councillors that police allegations that the venue had a drug problem, and that staff left customers drunk in the street, were "incorrect and unfounded".

On the issue of drugs, she explained: "There is no evidence whatsoever for such an assertion, which did not trouble PC Hitchcock in making it."

She argued that the number of people caught going into the venue with drugs showed the effectiveness of their drug search procedures.

Mrs Clover claimed the real reason for asking for a licence review - which could see the club shut down if councillors decide against them early next week - was that it was a strain on police resources.

She went on to accuse the police of carrying out "artificial exercises" to back up its claims that it sold drinks irresponsibly, and that PC Jason Hitchcock's attempt to do so, was "nothing short of shocking", and evidence of his "determination to achieve his goal regardless of the evidence".

The Metropolitan Police licensing team, lead by their barrister Sarah Le Fevre, told the hearing sexual predators would hang around outside in the early hours of the morning, and said that there were many dangerous incidents connected with the club.

She told the committee: "Officers at all levels of security have come here to explain their concerns, from borough commander Guy Ferguson down to PC Hitchcock."

Detective Chief Superintendentt Ferguson told the committee his key concern was about the vulnerability of people leaving the venue who had drunk too much, especially females.

Wonderland claim that is has gone beyond its basic requirements of responsibility to ensure it is a safe place, and taken extra measures that other venues do not take, including a member of staff to walk around to check for overly intoxicated customers.

Councillors had five working days from Wednesday (June 5) to decide the club's future.