A bid by a shop in Watford for permission to sell alcohol from 6am has been rejected.

Councillors on Watford Borough Council’s licensing sub committee refused the application by McColls on Cassiobury Drive at a meeting today.

The store already has a licence to sell booze from 10am until 10pm seven days a week, but applied for the earlier start time of 6am.

However the application was met with objections from people living nearby who said they feared the move could attract “street drinkers” to the area if granted.

The three-councillor committee comprised of Meriden Liberal Democrat, Jan Brown, Nascot Conservative Andrew Mortimer and Ken Brodhurst, a Green Party representative for Callowland, voted against application.