A bid to sell alcohol 24 hours a day from a Shell garage in South Woodford will exacerbate existing anti-social behaviour problems, according to residents and councillors.

The company has applied to Redbridge Council for a 24-hour alcohol licence at its Southend Road petrol station, which backs on to homes in Lambs Meadow.

The entrance to Lambs Meadow, directly behind the garage, is already used for drug-taking, littering and urinating, according to residents opposing the application.

And the Roding ward’s three Liberal Democrat councillors – Felicity Banks, Ian Bond and Gwyneth Deakins – believe alcohol sales could cause disturbance.

Sarah Sanders, of Lambs Meadow, said: “We just don’t want it [the licence].

“What they [Shell] don’t realise, is that behind the garage wall we have had drug addicts. You get them going into the garage.

“We’ve had problems with men coming round and urinating behind the back wall.”

The application is also to sell food and other drink until 5am.

The garage, which operates a window counter service after 10pm, is closed for refurbishment works.

Cllr Deakins said: “If you have late-night refreshments, you will have people parking in Lambs Meadow and stopping to eat.

“They don’t have residents’ permit parking and I don’t think residents would want it, but it means there’s no control.

“It’s an entirely inappropriate area for that kind of activity.”

Eddie Ayres, 67, of Lambs Meadow, lodged a formal complaint with the council.

He said: “If they got this licence, the whole shop is going to be open. The noise is bad enough at night.

“During the day people go behind the electrical station to urinate.

“Tesco is there, that should be sufficient for this area.”

The Tesco in Southend Road has a licence to sell alcohol Monday 6am to Saturday midnight and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

A Shell spokesman said the company does not comment on ongoing applications.

The licensing hearing is on June 21.