Councillors have approved an application for an off-licence despite objectors saying the area already has “a big drink problem”.

This morning, members of Medway Council's Licensing Hearing Panel granted the new premises licence for Medway Off Licence which is set to open in a former electrical shop in Wayfield Road, Chatham.

Residents living nearby had raised concerns that the store would lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour, and added that the Co-op and newsagents on the parade already sell alcohol.

The panel granted the licence but limited the hours that alcohol can be sold to 8am to 10pm every day of the year, including Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Councillor Paul Godwin, chairman of the panel, said: "We recognise that there are a number of elderly residents who may be disturbed by the late opening hours.

"The residential area in which the shop is located has had a history of anti-social behaviour in the past, therefore we wish to control the sale of alcohol."

The applicants, Abirami Poobalasingam and her husband, Experddoltan Emmanuel, told the meeting that they have 16 years of experience running off-licences and have several others in the Medway area.

In response to concerns about protecting children, they explained that the alcohol would be kept behind the counter, preventing children from being able to access it.

The couple also said they train staff to ID anyone under 25 and ban people from their stores who misbehave or try to purchase alcohol underage or for those who are underage.

Medway Council received 14 letters of objection to the application including one from mum-of-two Marie-France Nash, who said there was already “a big drink problem” in the area, with gangs loitering outside and on the grass opposite.

Labour’s Luton and Wayfield ward councillors Tristan Osborne and Sam Craven also objected.

In response to residents concerns, and objections raised by the police, the couple put in a last minute submission to reduce the times which they would serve alcohol to 8am - 11pm, seven days a week with exceptions on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

The original times had been 6am - 11pm Monday to Saturday and 8am - 10.30pm on Sundays.