A shop's bid to extend its alcohol licence in an area troubled by street drinkers has resulted in a ban on it selling super-strength alcohol. 

Costcutter in Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green, was hoping to serve alcohol from 6am to midnight, seven days a week, in order to compete with a major supermarket. 

Prior to Friday's licensing meeting, the store was permitted to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 10.30pm on Sunday. 

Manager Shailesh Patel said the move was prompted by a 25 per cent fall in trade caused by the opening of Sainsbury's in The Broadway. 

Mr Patel can now sell alcohol from 6am until 11pm, but is banned from stocking or selling beer, lager, or cider exceeding 6.5 per cent strength. 

He has three weeks to comply with the condition, which he calls an "unfair deal" that has put his business "in limbo".

"Every shop in the area has volunteered to give up super strength alcohol for six months as part of a pilot," he added.

"Police and the council want to see if the ban has an effect in reducing street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

"It if turns out there has not been any noticeable difference, my business is still affected. 

"We get normal customers who are returning home from a night shift and buy two or three cans with their basket of groceries.

"I am going to lose money through basket sales," said Mr Patel. 

Redbridge licensing officer, Sergeant Douglas Fyfe, said the neighbourhood police team had been "struggling on a daily basis to deal with anti-social behaviour and low level crime in the area of shops and underground station".

He also said the team were spending a "disproportionate amount of time dealing with these issues".

The six-month pilot on reducing the availability of strong alcohol has been rolled out in Ilford and Cranbrook Road and is due to end in February.