A pub linked to a number of violent incidents has been forced to close its doors at 8pm on Friday nights in a bid to curtail trouble.

The Fox and Pheasant pub in Station Road, West Drayton, must close at 8pm on Friday evenings following the meeting at the Civic Centre, in High Street, Uxbridge.

Music and entertainment has also been banned on Saturday nights in a bid to curb violent incidents.

Hillingdon police's licensing officer, Sergeant Ian Meens, said: "It's been a troublesome premises with fighting, assaults, disturbances and recently more serious incidents. It's the police's position that there have been difficulties controlling the premises."

Mr Meens told the Gazette how the latest incident involved a brawl between customers and staff resulting in one employee's car being seriously damaged.

Residents living nearby told of the noise, litter and threatening behaviour they had experienced over the last eight months.

A mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's about time. It's everything that is horrible about a pub. One Friday night my husband heard that tell tale boom noise when someone puts in a window screen. He's called the police on a few occasions.

During the 2007 trial of Noel Moran and Gavin Ward for the murder of Christopher Burke, also known as Christopher Mills, 22, jurors heard how a fight at the pub played a part in the lethal attack on Christopher with a samurai sword two days later.

On Wednesday Hillingdon Council's licensing sub-committee held an expedited review with Mr Meens to enforce the 'emergency measures'.

Philomena Bach, director for environment and consumer protection at the council said: "On 16th September 2008 the Metropolitan Police applied to the council, being the licensing authority, for an expedited review of the premises licence for the Fox and Pheasant public house in West Drayton, following a number of violent incidents that had recently occurred in and around the premises.

"A hearing was held on September 17, 2008 and the licensing committee imposed interim conditions on the premises licence which take immediate effect."

The pub, which had previously been allowed to serve alcohol until 2am on Friday and Saturday, refused to comment.

A further review will be held early next month.

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