A Hampshire shop has been caught selling booze to youngsters three times in just eight months, it has emerged.

Now the shop has been banned from selling alcohol following the undercover operation by trading standards.

The offences took place at the former Costcutters store in Station Road, New Milton.

Thomas George, trading as Alpha of Marnhull Road, Poole, held the Costcutters franchise at the time, but lost it in October and the shop has now changed hands.

But New Forest District Council’s licensing sub-committee has decided the licence should be revoked.

In a statement revealing its decision the committee said: “These sales were evidenced by test purchases carried out by police and trading standards.”

It added: “It was also apparent to the sub-committee that intelligence suggested that the sale of alcohol to minors at the premises occurred on other occasions.”

The notice also said “poor or absent management was the primary cause” and there had been “a total lack of co-operation on the part of the licence holder” which made a review inevitable.

The sub-committee said the new owner could apply for a fresh licence.

Mr George said that three members of staff had since undergone training.

The shop had cost him £30,000 in a year and he had sold it on December 1, he added.

A Costcutters spokesman said Mr George had lost his franchise. The store shut in October and is currently in the process of being taken over.