IT is the family pub which has been at the heart of a Southampton community for decades.

But reports of brawling and "sexual entertainment" have led police to call for a clampdown on the Shield and Dagger in Shirley.

Officers have been called to 20 incidents since December 2014, including a bloody fight and booming parties.

Today they will urge Southampton City Council to impose stricter hours and CCTV rules.

Landlord Tony Cookson has denied wrongdoing and claimed police and complaining neighbours are acting on a "vendetta".

The controversy began in December 2014, when officers were called to a lock-in shortly before 1am.

A member of the public reported that "sexual entertainment" was taking place and drinks were being served after midnight, breaching the pub's licence.

Landlord Tony Cookson told officers he was holding a private birthday party but denied serving drinks after hours, according to a police report.

He allegedly refused to hand over CCTV, saying no one knows how to operate the cameras.

Officers were called to a string of incidents at the Stratton Road pub, including a brawl outside on February 20 this year where several customers were left bloody or injured.

In a report to the council's licensing department, Hampshire Constabulary says it has "tried to work with the premises and encouraged improvement over the last two years, but we are concerned that whilst Mr Cookson claims he does want to work with us, when it actually comes to resolving a live incident we get very little support.

"The constabulary is concerned that the lack of cooperation with CCTV is as a result of misbehaviour on the premises by staff and customers."

Speaking to the Daily Echo yesterday, Mr Cookson denied breaching his licence and said he had spent nearly £4,000 on CCTV upgrades.

He said 12 of the 20 incidents were reported by "bitter" neighbours who had been barred from the pub.

"When this goes to licensing there's going to be at least 100 people writing to them and saying this is a nice pub," he said.

"They're more scared to go downtown and get stuck in a brawl down there than go down to their local pub."

He strongly denied hosting a sex show.

Mr Cookson's son, Paul, said the family would take the case to court.

"We're trying to make a living and they keep trying to squeeze us and squeeze us," he said. "We're not a trouble pub, we're not known as a trouble pub. We've had a few incidents but we sell alcohol, so that's always going to happen.

"They're just trying to shut all the pubs down."

The council's next licensing committee takes place today at Southampton Civic Centre.