The women in charge of a convenience store which flogged illegal alcohol for more than 12 months were fined more than £2,000 by the council.

Ramiros Mini Market on St Helens Road lost its licence around two years ago when it sold illegal tobacco to officers from Trading Standards.

Although it lost its licence, the convenience store flogged illegal alcohol for more than 12 months.

Over the course of several visits to the site at the crossroads with Deane Church Lane and Morris Green Lane, officers seized more than £10,000 worth of items.

After more than a year, the council applied for a closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.

As a result, Ramiros Mini Market was closed last year.

The women in charge of the convenience store, owner Jenifer Bogdan and manager Szilvia Kone-Grain, were charged with the unauthorised sale of alcohol under the Licensing Act.

They admitted these charges and were sentenced for the offences towards the start of this month.

The Bolton News:

Bogdan, of Hulton Lane, was fined more than £1,000 and ordered to cover £1,000 in court costs.

And Kone-Grain, of Newbrook Road, was fined more than £1,200 and ordered to cover £500 in court costs.

In response, deputy leader of the council, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: "This business was warned repeatedly but it continued to sell alcohol without a licence. 

"Not only were they breaking the rules, but they were taking business away from legitimate off-licences which operate within the law. 

"We will not hesitate in taking action against anyone selling alcohol without a licence.

"Our Trading Standards and licensing officers have worked tirelessly on this case and now those responsible have been held to account."

A new convenience store, Mini Local, was opened last year on the same site. It is under different management to the old convenience store.

Mini Local applied for its licence on October 18 last year.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.