A supermarket has become the latest victim of Islington Council’s war against smuggled booze.

City Supermarket in Goswell Road, Finsbury, became the fifth shop to have its licence revoked by the town hall on Monday.

A trading standards swoop in January uncovered 158 litres of spirits and 164 bottles of wine suspected to be smuggled – amounting to �1,744 in evaded duty. Sgt Robin Clark, Islington Police’s licensing officer, had called for the move, saying: “There is a strong link between organised crime groups and the trade in smuggled goods.”

The store plans to appeal the decision at court. Part-time manager Tanya Catti said the suspect booze had been bought without the owner’s knowledge.

The shop can continue selling alcohol until any appeal is heard, while council licensing chiefs have 13 more licence reviews pending.