A TILBURY convenience store will have to keep alcohol locked away or covered up during its early-morning opening hours after councillors approved a new premises licence.

LKR Express, on Dock Road, has been granted permission to sell alcohol from 7am until midnight every day, despite objections from three residents.

The store intends to open from 5am, prompting questions at Wednesday's licensing hearing over how alcohol would be kept from customers during the first two hours.

A council officer warned it would be an offence to expose alcohol for sale outside the permitted hours.

Graham Hopkins, of GT Licensing Consultants, representing applicant Mr Kandiah, said alcohol could be covered during that period, while products displayed on the shop floor could be kept in lockable fridges.

Councillors approved the application with an additional condition requiring alcohol behind the counter to be covered and fridges containing alcohol to remain locked until sales can begin at 7am.

Mr Hopkins told the hearing the licence was important to the future of the business.

He said: "We need the licence to make the shop viable.

"I'm sure you'll appreciate trade alongside hospitality is facing hard times at the moment, but [Mr Kandiah] has taken the decision to open the shop and provide a service to local residents and travellers on the railway."

A series of safeguards were also proposed following concerns about the potential impact of the store.

All spirits will be kept behind the counter, while no more than two unaccompanied under-16s will be allowed inside at any one time.

Unaccompanied under-16s will also be barred from the shop before 7am and after 9pm.

Mr Hopkins described the restrictions as "positive steps to address concerns about the impact on children", adding that young people would be "strictly supervised".

The premises must also operate CCTV, with recordings retained for 30 days.

Mr Hopkins said attempts had been made to contact residents by email to discuss concerns, including antisocial behaviour, but no replies had been received.

Further conditions previously agreed with trading standards will also form part of the licence.

Councillors ultimately approved alcohol sales between 7am and midnight subject to the agreed conditions.