A SHOP which regularly sold alcohol to underage children, including once when a girl nearly died after buying vodka, has changed hands.

The new owner of the former Lifestyle Express, in Anglesey Avenue, Burnley, has vowed to turn his new convenience store into a 'proper community shop'.

Burnley Council reviewed the premises licence at the shop following allegations the store's previous licence-holder had sold alcohol and tobacco to under-18s.

Lancashire Trading Standards said there had been a long history of illegal activity at the store.

In one incident, a 14-year-old girl was admitted into Royal Blackburn Hospital after consuming a £13 bottle of vodka bought from the off-licence in October 2016, police confirmed.

The seller and designated premises supervisor Humera Zafar received a £90 fine.

A licensing sub-committee meeting was held last Thursday to review the premises licence.

It was surrendered after Ms Zafar did not attend.

Tony Edwards, 60, has now taken over the running of the store, renamed the Sycamore Convenience Store, and said he will apply for an alcohol licence in the near future.

Mr Edwards said: "I want to run the store according to the law. Residents don't want to be putting up with illegalities on their doorstep.

"I want to make it a proper community shop, which it probably was at one stage."

Police visited and checked the shop on a number of occasions before Mr Edwards took over. Their last visit was on November 29, 2017, when the premises appeared to be closed.

This means alcohol and tobacco cannot be sold at the store unless a new owner applies for a premises licence, a committee spokesman said.

After a visit to the shop, a reporter from the Lancashire Telegraph confirmed the store is no longer selling alcohol and tobacco.

Former council leader Charlie Briggs, who also represents the area, said by not turning up the previous premises supervisor was making themselves look 'guilty'.

However the proposed changes to the store he said were 'brilliant'.

Cllr Briggs said: "It will be fantastic if he gets it going.

"If he does everything right and applies for a new licence I have nothing against it.

"We have enough anti-social behaviour around certain areas so let's hope he does what he says he will do."

The store is open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.