A Bradford pub licensee has had her licence withdrawn after a court heard how stolen money and a handgun were found on the premises.

Police found the money, an automatic pistol and ammunition when they searched the Old King's Head pub in Hill Top Lane, Allerton, six months ago as part of a major investigation.

Licensee Diane Craven was later fined £200 with £40 costs by the city's magistrates after pleading guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition, plus two charges of handling stolen money.

Yesterday police successfully argued that her licence should be revoked as she was not fit and proper person to hold one.

The 38-year-old mother-of-two told the city's licensing justices that she and her husband Christopher paid £10,000 for a 10-year lease of the pub and moved in just over two years ago.

Since then they had spent about £30,000 on redecorating the premises and providing kitchen equipment to allow them to start serving meals. She said she felt "devastated, foolish" when she was arrested by the police and charged with criminal offences.

She had first seen the gun, which was under a mattress, a few months after moving in. She showed it to her brother, who said he believed it was a replica. At about that time they had been burgled while they were in bed.

Some of the money found inside a lock-up garage at the pub had come from her brother, who owed her about £1,000, she said.

Asked if she was ever likely to get involved in criminal activity again, Mrs Craven replied: "No... I would lose my home, my business, my livelihood."

The justices decided that the licence should be revoked.