A popular Cally off-licence has escaped with a two-week suspension of its alcohol licence after it was allegedly caught doing a dodgy booze deal.

Trading Standards officer Douglas Love had been pushing for a “medium-term” suspension after he claimed he caught the Caledonian General Store staff taking a delivery duty-free beer (44 trays) and wine (six cases).

But at a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Islington Council’s licensing sub committee restricted the ban to two weeks. Staff never admitted any wrongdoing, and Mr Love found no other allegedly illegal alcohol in the shop.

As reported in the Gazette, 10 outraged customers had written to the council ahead of the meeting to launch an impassioned defence of the shop. One said: “I have never even heard whispers of any illegal products.”