A Croydon shop that wants to sell booze until 3am withdrew their application after being being blocked by police.

Police feared extending the hours of the alcohol licence might contribute to binge drinking in the town centre.

The Mediterranean Food Centre, which sells alcohol, applied to extend its trading hours from 8am to 3am, seven days a week.

Its application, made by Umut Ozpercin, was set to be heard by the licensing sub-committee on June 2, but it was withdrawn in the face of police objections.

Inspector Simon Ellingham, from the town centre policing team, who recommended the licence be refused, said: "The area in question is in the middle of a nightclub scene and as such is surrounded on all sides by late-night venues that sell alcohol.

"There are already several small outlets in the area that sell alcohol, none of which to my knowledge trade past midnight in this capacity.

"We experience numerous problems with late-night revellers consuming vast amounts of alcohol and then have to deal with their subsequent behaviour.

"Should a small outlet such as this begin to sell alcohol into the early hours, I fear some may seek to top up their excessive consumption in an environment that does not control that sale."

Police said a UK Border Agency check at the shop showed a failed asylum seeker was employed there. He admitted he had been deported to Iraq and illegally re-entered the country.

An inspection also found staff had no training on Challenge 25 – a proof of age scheme – or the Licensing Act 2003, and that alcohol adverts were more prominent than Challenge 25 signs.

Officers also reported two crimes involving the shop where they failed to provide CCTV on request. In November, the shop was damaged and in December, there was an assault outside the premises.

The cases were dropped by police as they could not get hold of the CCTV.