TWO bars caught selling to underage girls have had conditions put on their licences by councillors.

The Old Hat, in Alexandra Street, Southend, and the Sarah Moore, in Elm Road, Leigh, served alcohol to two girls, both aged 16, on September 16.

The bars were two of four which fell foul of the police and Trading Standards operation.

Police also said traces of drugs were found in the Old Hat when they visited the premises two days before the test purchase.

However, the bar’s owners say the premises are clean and they have worked hard to get the business going. Vanda Peters, a director of the Old Hat, which she runs with her daughter Nina, said: “We are a family business and we have families coming in at lunchtime and evenings.

“We have been here a year and the drugs thing is a very grey area. We’ve had no proof of it and we know we don’t have a drug problem.

“With regards to the alcohol, we had a trainee on that night, which was our fault, but these things happen and we’ve retrained all our staff.”

She said 25 businesses in Alexandra Street wrote letters supporting the bar and bistro, stating it was “comfortable and we are a safe place and very well run”.

Members of a Southend Council licensing committee signed off the agreed conditions with the bar, which included employing two doormen, who have been in place for three months, and implementing a search policy.

The Sarah Moore has to ensure two door supervisors are employed from 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

It also has to put in a drugs safe, where any drugs seized can be stored, and to maintain a random search policy.

The bar has already installed CCTV in customer areas.

The Alex, also in Alexandra Street, was sanctioned last month and Papillon, in Marine Parade, Southend, is yet to be dealt with.

Sgt Danny Barnes, of Essex Police’s licensing unit, said: “We have worked with the premises and after careful consideration we felt we would agree conditions.

“The premises have addressed the issues raised and hopefully that will be the end of the matter.”