A SUPERMARKET has had its application to sell booze granted in part, amid concerns of alcohol- related disorder in the area.

Following an initial request to sell alcohol until 3am, Local Supermarket, Bellegrove Road, Welling, changed its application to sell alcohol between 8am to 11pm.

Bexley Council's licensing sub-committee considered five written objections.

It also considered a petition signed by 71 residents from the area.

Following deliberation on April 28, the committee decided to grant the application in part.

The supermarket is now allowed to sell alcohol between 8am and 8.30pm.

Chandrakant Bharakhda, the owner of CRS Newsagent, which is next door to the supermarket, was present at the meeting.

He called the supermarket owner Kemal Yilmaz a "wholly irresponsible applicant".

A spokesman for Mr Yilmaz described Mr Bharakhda's complaint as "a trading objection rather than anything else".

PC Eddy Boston, licensing officer with the Metropolitan Police also made representations, citing crime and disorder and public nusiance.

He said: "We are objecting to the hours, due to high levels of youth disorder in the area.

"Another off-licence in the middle of the area is putting fuel on the fire."

PC Boston also showed CCTV footage taken from the area which showed gangs of youths congregating in the area with bottles and carrying out graffiti.

The decision follows a brawl among up to 20 youths in Welling High Street on April 21.

And there have been disturbances and damage caused by a gang of youths rampaging through Merlin Road, Welling, in which one resident was injured.