A pub has had its hours cut following concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime.

The Bell, in Ley Street, Ilford, was ordered to shut by 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays after previously being licensed to stay open until 3am.

The restrictions, which also included removing the current licence holder, were imposed by Redbridge Council's licensing sub-committee in February, but the pub's owners appealed.

But on June 17 Romford Magistrates Court rejected the appeal, while also awarding costs of £4,000 to cover the council's legal fees.

Details of the hearing have been released this week.

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said: "[The magistrates] stated that they found the position taken by the sub-committee was appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances detailed to them and they endorsed the sub-committee’s findings."

She added: "The council’s licensing team work closely with the Police and Anti-Social Behaviour in order to monitor incidents in and around licensed premises across the borough."

There have been a string of violent incidents in the area around the pub in recent years.

One of the most horrific was the killing of 29-year-old Thomas Cudjoe, who was found stabbed to death on the forecourt of the Shell garage next door to the venue in November last year.