A damning list of reasons why a Bradford nightclub should be stripped of its drinks licence was just the "tip of the iceberg", a licensing committee was told.

The committee panel, sitting at Bradford Magistrates' court, heard how there was "abundant evidence" that Angela Minott was unfit to hold the licence for the Planet Venus nightclub.

Barrister Rodney Ferm said West Yorkshire Police wanted to revoke her licence.

Mrs Minott, 40, and her father Pearl Gladstone Minott, who owns and helps run the club in Sunbridge Road in the city's red light area, were also in court.

They heard Mr Ferm tell the panel how Miss Minott was made bankrupt after Bradford Council pursued her for £20,000 in commercial rates.

At the hearing yesterday, Mr Ferm reeled off a catalogue of damning incidents which he said highlighted the improper way the club was run.

He told how:

two shootings happened outside or near the club between November 2000 and November 2001

at the inquest into the death of two Italian waiters who died from Drugs overdoses in April last year, a witness said one of the men was handed a plastic bag after he exchanged money with a man inside the club

known drugs dealers were spotted inside the club by police officers

police officers were deliberately made to wait outside the club before being allowed inside to inspect the premises on many occasions

on at least one occasion a police inspector observed alcoholic drinks being served in plastic cups to customers well after Miss Minott's licence allowed alcohol to be served

doorstaff used to patrol the club were not officially registered with police schemes.

Mr Ferm said: "These different breaches are no more than the 'tip of the iceberg' of what has been going on."

He told the committee in December Bradford Council withdrew the club's entertainment licence for failing to achieve Drugswatch status.

The hearing continues.