The Chickenhall Service Station in Eastleigh, Hampshire has been given the go ahead to sell alcohol, despite dozens of locals signing a petition to block the move. .

According to the Southern Daily Echo, the Esso station already stocks food and drink in its convenience store. An application was submitted to sell alcohol from 6am to 11pm, seven days a week.

The forecourt owners have agreed to train staff, install a CCTV system and operate a policy where anyone who appears to look under 25 will be asked to provide identification. A ‘refusals book’ will also be used to log instances where staff decline a sale.

A local newsagent was angry at the council’s decision as he said it would take trade away from him, while a resident said: “The saying is ‘don’t drink and drive’ – putting it in a garage will not help, especially being sold from 6am to 11pm.”