A PETROL station that sold alcohol to underage children has been banned from selling booze...for two days.

Plaistow Broadway Filling Station, in Rayne Road, Braintree, was given the short suspension after a licence review hearing was told managers had put in place as many measures as they could to prevent further sales to under 18s.

Braintree Council’s licensing sub-committee heard the company had not challenged police evidence.

Martin Reed, Essex Police licensing manager, told the hearing he would not seek revocation of the licence because the company had accepted, and was dealing with, the problem.

Police seized alcohol from youngsters who said they had either bought it from the shop, or had got it from someone who had bought it there, five times between June 2006 and June this year.

The petrol station failed two test purchases organised by Essex Police and Essex Trading Standards in April and May 2007, but had since passed five more tests.

David Hook, solicitor for Plaistow Broadway Filling Station, said an employee had been sacked for selling alcohol to underage youngsters three times and another had been given a final warning.

Other measures had also been put in place, including regular staff training and the Challenge 25 scheme, where anyone who looks 25 or under is asked for identification.

Mr Hook said: “The company has shown a determination to address these issues, a determination to eradicate these problems and to have a strong foundation to move forward.”

The committee was told alcohol accounted for 12 per cent of sales at the petrol station and there was no evidence to suggest the sales to the underage youngsters had caused a public nuisance or any harm to children.

The suspension will come into force on September 10, following a 21-day period in which Plaistow Broadway Filling Station could appeal if it wished.