THE new owner of a Bournemouth convenience store has applied for its old licensing hours to be restored – after the previous operator was twice caught selling alcohol to children.

Moordown Post Office Food & Wine received fines and sanctions after selling a vodka-based drink to a 14-year-old girl in 2009, and again in 2013 for serving a 15-year-old.

This saw the Wimborne Road shop's premises licence scaled back, only allowing alcohol sales until 6.30pm between Mondays and Saturdays, and until 2.30pm on Sundays.

But Alpeshukumar Patel, who took charge of the shop in January, has asked the council to reinstate the previous hours, which allowed alcohol to be sold until 11pm six days a week and until 10.30pm on Sundays.

In his application to the licensing board, Mr Patel said the shop will request identification from anyone buying alcohol who looks under 25 – one of several conditions agreed with Dorset Police prior to the application being submitted.

“Drink awareness guidelines will be given to all staff,” said Mr Patel, who explained a log of occasions when customers are refused alcohol will also be kept.

“We are bearing in mind all the licensing objectives like public safety, prevention of public nuisance, prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.”

But Burhan Kircal, who owns nearby Moordown Newsagents, has written to the council objecting to the plans.

“I feel that Moordown already has adequate off-licence facilities,” said Mr Kircal, whose shop is licensed to serve alcohol until 11pm.

Mr Kircal said that Moordown is a “relatively peaceful" area, and that as well as his own shop, alcohol is also sold nearby at the Co-operative supermarket and the Holly Tree pub.

"I feel that Moordown already has adequate off-licence facilities," he added.

The application will be heard in full by the borough’s licensing board, chaired by Cllr Andrew Morgan, at a town hall meeting on Thursday.