A VILLAGE store could lose its off licence after it failed two test purchase operations.

Under-age teenagers bought wine and beer from the Tanhills Post Office Premier Store, Kimblesworth Road, Tanhills, near Chester-le-Street, without being challenged.

On Tuesday, January 29, Durham County Council's statutory licensing sub-committee will consider an application from Durham Police to review the store's licence.

Councillors have the power to suspend or revoke the licence, or impose conditions on it.

A report from the council's Director of Neighbourhood Services, Terry Collins, says the shop failed test purchase operations in July and October.

In the first test a 15-year-old girl bought a bottle of wine and the second time two 14-year-olds, a girl and a boy, bought four cans of lager.

The report adds that the police are seeking conditions to be imposed on the licence if it is not revoked.

These include installing CCTV, training staff about the alcohol laws, keeping a refusals register and operating Challenge 25 - in which anyone who looks under 25 has to produce official ID to buy drink.