A STRING of accusations from stocking contraband cigarettes to employing illegal immigrants could see the council clampdown on a convenience store.

Undercover and uniformed officers have reported finding suspicious men trying to sell electrical goods to the shop's staff.

Complaints from neighbours about street drinkers in the area were also addressed in Thames Valley Police's 50-page dossier after drunken customers were seen being sold more alcohol.

The NISA Superstore in Baker Street, West Reading, faces losing its alcohol licence when they are brought before Reading Borough Council's licensing committee next month.

In the documents prepared by police more than a dozen examples including accusations of employing illegal immigrants, stocking stolen goods and serving in breach of their licensing conditions are laid out.

On March 30 officers visited the store after reports that booze had been sold to a known street drinker who had alcohol confiscated off him earlier that day on Oxford Road.

The report read: "The alcohol was sold to the drunken person by a Mr Hari Kumar Oli a casual person working as a member of staff who was an illegal immigrant living at the premises and was being paid £50 per day in cash."

Mr Oli was later deported from the UK to his home nation in Nepal.

Further reports chronicle times when officers and neighbours have spotted suspicious men trying to sell goods to the shop's owners.

In the police statements staff claimed they "always turned them away and didn't buy goods from them".

Visit from licensing officers revealed a black blag full of smuggled cigarettes being hidden in a freezer in the rooms above the store.

The premises licence holder Nadeem Shahzad was also sent letters after it was found he was selling super-strength lager for below the minimum prices set by the government.

Police licensing officer Mike King summarised the force's wishes in the report and said: "Given the compelling evidence uncovered during the investigation Thames Valley Police are requesting the revocation of the premises licence."

Residents have until September 7 to contact the council's licensing department with any comments regarding the shop's licence review.

A licensing applications committee will then hear the case and decide whether to take any action against the store's owners.