BOSSES at a Burnley off licence which sold booze to under-age drinkers because staff ‘felt sorry for them’ have been given a second chance by councillors.

Undercover sting operations caught out workers at Pommy’s, in Lyndhurst Road, three times last year, the borough’s licensing committee was told.

But brothers Zia and Umar Aslam, said to be responsible for at least two of the failures, had since been sacked.

PC Mark Driver said a licensing review had helped to curb problems with the premises.

“Now we have no incidents of anti-social behaviour relating to alcohol in this area. I have never seen as turnaround like this in such a short space of time,” he said.

Paul Sherratt, representing licence holder Summaya Mahmood, said the two brothers had been dismissed and she had even sacked her own brother, who was responsible for the third licensing failure.

Staff serving alcohol had been sent on approved courses for alcohol reta-iling, he added, and the shop now operated a ‘Challenge 25’ policy, for anyone suspected of being under-age.

“We have no doubt that these premises, in the past, have contributed to problems in the area but that is not the case today since these measure were put in place,” said Mr Sherratt.

Coun Anne Kelly, sitting with Coun Frank Cant and Coun Bill Brindle, agreed that conditions should be imposed on the licence, rather than a suspension.

“We do appreciate that steps have been taken which seem to have contributed to an improvement in anti-social behaviour levels in the area,” said Coun Kelly.

“If there is another test purchasing failure though we would expect police to apply for another review.”

The conditions cover the Challenge 25 policy, ongoing staff training and introd-ucing a refusals register.