CONTROVERSIAL town centre pub the Rat and Parrot is to extend its Sunday opening hours.

The pub, owned since November last year by TCG Acquisitions, won an extension to its Friday and Saturday hours in April and now closes at 12.30am.

Last week the pub, in Bexleyheath Broadway, successfully applied to Bexley Council's licensing sub-committee to extend its hours on a Sunday so it can now close at 11.30pm.

The application attracted only one objection from a nearby resident who claimed she had witnessed violence, underage drinking and vandalism at the pub.

Sainsburys' supermarket in Stadium Way, Crayford, was also granted a licence to sell alcohol seven days a week from 5am until midnight and 24 hours a day during December.

Crayford Community and Business Forum and the town's councillors objected to the 24-hour licence because they claimed it would increase disorder and disturbance to residents.

Meanwhile, in a continuing crackdown on sales of alcohol to underage drinkers, Bexley police are asking the council to revoke the licences of two more off-licences in Welling.