POLICE have succeeded in their bid to revoke the licences of two restaurants linked to "criminal activity".

The Bury Times previously reported that a cannabis farm had been uncovered in the basement of Bellini, in Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, during a raid in February.

Following that discovery, Greater Manchester Police asked Bury Council to revoke the restaurant's premises licence, as well as that of La Capannina Ristorante, in Sunnybank Road, Unsworth, which they say is also associated with crime.

In a behind-closed-doors meeting of the council's licensing hearing panel last Wednesday, April 13, councillors agreed to take action against the restaurants.

The panel heard evidence from the police and from the companies that hold the licences - Il Tavolo Limited and Chioggia Limited, of which Monica Marie Bacci and her husband Giancarlo are directors. Dennis Robert Warner is the designated premises supervisor for both locations.

At the request of both parties involved, members of the press and public were excluded from the meeting.

A spokesman for the restaurants told the Bury Times that they will appeal the decisions and that Bellini has now closed for refurbishment and rebranding. La Capannina will continue to trade as normal, pending the appeal.

He said: "The owners were quite shocked by the decision. They refute any involvement with the cultivation of cannabis at Bellini and are going to fight this ruling.

"Bellini is closed for refurbishment and rebranding, due to the adverse publicity the restaurant has received, but it is business as usual at La Capannina.

"They want to carry on and let people know they are still open, pending an appeal, and there have been no criminal proceedings or charges brought against them."

Unsworth councillor David Jones, the panel's chair, said: "The police and the companies of Bellini and La Capannina both made applications to hear the meeting in private.

"We heard evidence from both sides and the hearing went on for around five hours. At the conclusion, we decided that the only remedy was to revoke both licences, as the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety had been undermined."

In a statement submitted to the panel, a GMP spokesman said that "there are no conditions which can be imposed on the licence which can mitigate the flaws of the management of the premises".