Two off licences in High Wycombe have had their licenses revoked and a third suspended for three months after illegal cigarettes and alcohol were seized in raids.

Wycombe District Council says it wants to send a strong message to other stores after Grosik Supermarket on Castle Street and Best One on Desborough Road were stripped of their licence.

And Best One Express on Bridge Street will have its privileges taken away for three months after all three stores faced separate licence reviews by WDC last week.

It comes after joint Trading Standards and customs officers raids found large quantities of contraband with unpaid duty at these premises, with some carefully hidden from view.

Caroline Hughes, Head of Environment at Wycombe District Council said: “Breaches like this will not be tolerated by the council.

“The revocation of two of these licences and the suspension of the third will hopefully send out a strong deterrent message to anyone doing or thinking about doing the same.

“The terms and conditions of a licence, and the law, are there for good reason. They are in place to protect people, and combat the sale of illicit goods.”

Grosik had its licence suspended last year after contraband was found in a hidden enclosure.

And again in February, sniffer dogs found 409 packets of illegal cigarettes and 400 grams of rolling tobacco hidden in a light fitting and within the owner’s van.

At Best One on Desborough Road, 174 litres of non duty alcohol were seized, along with 18 packets of illegal cigarettes and 15 pouches of tobacco on February 24.

On the same day officers also visited Best One Express on Bridge Street the same day and discovered a quantity of non-duty paid alcohol, which was seized by HMRC.

Taking into account the evidence and all the circumstances of the case, the review panel ruled to suspend this licence for three months.

All three decisions are subject to magistrates’ court appeals which can be lodged within three weeks of the owners being informed of the decision.