A PUB landlord accused of serving alcohol after hours and to underage drinkers has agreed to employ door staff and to close earlier.

Alison Lamb, who runs Llewellyn’s Cafe Bar in Ferryhill faced complaints from Durham Police over her running of the pub.

She appeared before Durham County Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee meeting to answer the accusations today. (Tuesday, January 21)

Sergeant Tim Robson, of the alcohol harm reduction unit, said: “Between May 2012 and June 2013 there were 17 reports of anti-social behavior in the pub’s vicinity.

“We recorded 21 incidents of alcohol being sold after hours between December 2012 and May 2013.

“On December 23 2012 there were 15 people fighting there including a male who had a pool cue taken off him by staff.”

The Main Street pub's opening hours are from 9am to 2am Monday to Saturday and from 10am until midnight on a Sunday.

Sgt Robson took the committee through some of the fights which had broken out at the pub.

He also listed several occasions when staff, including the landlord’s husband John Lamb, served customers alcohol after hours - including one occasion at 3.20am.

He said staff served a 15-year-old girl alcohol during a police test purchase operation last July although they did refuse to serve her on two other occasions.

Mr Lamb said his wife was unaware he had served after hours while some customers described the pub as a friendly family orientated place.

Mrs Lamb said: “I’ve being involved in the pub trade for about 12-years and Llewellyn’s is a meeting place for families, old people and local businessmen.

“I was mad with my husband for serving after hours as I think that I do a good job and I would never do that.”

The licensing sub-committee decided that last orders Sunday to Thursday should be 11.30pm with closing at midnight.

Last orders on Friday and Saturday will be at 12.30am with closing at 1am.

Door staff will be employed between 10am and closing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of bank holiday weekends and a Challenge 25 scheme will operate.

Children under-18 must be accompanied by an adult and they must leave the pub by 9pm.