Drug abuse is prevalent in every pub, according to a former landlord of a premises where a man was savagely slashed with a knife.

Alfred Martin was speaking at a licensing panel in which councillors revoked the licence of the Prince of Wales in Rochester with immediate effect.

Police called for an urgent review after the attack which left the victim needing 35 stitches to his face with the loss of more than a litre of blood.

The pub in Cecil Road was forced to shut after the early morning incident last month and Mr Martin, the designated premises supervisor, had his licence suspended.

Mr Martin told the hearing he could not stop drug taking in the toilets and said that drug abuse could be found in any pub.

Police had been monitoring the pub for several months amid concerns of drug abuse, underage drinking and selling alcohol out of hours.

On one occasion officers took swabs in the gents and ladies toilets and found high traces of cocaine.

The pub was closed on Tuesday March 13 and the licence suspended after it was agreed that the premise was associated with serious crime and disorder.On Monday April 3he licensing panel made a decision to revoke the licence. The landlord has 28 days to appeal this decision.

Medway's district commander, Chief Inspector Rob Marsh said: ‘The application to review this licence was made due to the serious nature of various incidents which have taken place within this pub.

"We work to ensure the community is kept safe and well, and I hope our action goes some way to help the community feel reassured that we will always take action where it is needed."

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and has been released pending further investigation.