Two brothers and their father have been fined in connection with the running of an illegal bar in Shipley following a police and Customs and Excise raid.

Ashley Darren, 61, who runs the Abbey Lodge Guest House in Kirkgate, had admitted selling beers, lagers, wines and spirits without a licence and possessing a number of CS gas canisters, classified as prohibitive weapons, at a previous hearing.

Yesterday Bingley magistrates fined him £500 for each offence and ordered him to pay £40 costs.

His sons, Gary, 36, of Aireville Rise, Frizinghall, and Carlo, 34, of Kirkgate, had previously denied both charges but yesterday changed their plea to guilty on the alcohol-related charge.

They were each fined £400 and both ordered to pay £40 costs.

Magistrates dismissed the accusations against them of possessing a prohibited weapon after Ewan McLachlan, prosecuting, said he would be offering no evidence against them.

Ashley Darren's wife, Eileen, 59, of Kirkgate, had also denied selling alcohol without a liquor licence and that charge was also dismissed after the prosecution offered no evidence against her.

Yesterday's hearing heard how police and Customs and Excise officers seized a number of CS gas canisters and about £2,000 worth of assorted alcohol after raiding Abbey Lodge last October.

Granville Rooley, representing all three men, said the bar and cellar had been built and started running after Gary Darren was granted a provisional licence in 1995 but had subsequently ceased to operate because no full licence was given.

But he said as Ashley and Eileen Darren lived on the premises they had continued using the cellar to store their own property, including alcohol.

About 15 months ago the Darrens hosted a couple of family celebrations at Abbey Lodge, serving drinks from the bar. Mr Rooley added: "Ashley Darren then faced the problem of people staying at Abbey Lodge and eating in the dining room, asking for drinks with their meals.

"Foolishly he allowed this to happen - he doesn't keep his guests at arms length."

He added that the CS gas canisters had been left behind by an Abbey Lodge guest a couple of days before the raid and the Darrens had not realised what they were,

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