A controversial Bradford nightclub has been stripped of its drinks licence after licensing justices found its boss unfit to run it.

Police applied to revoke the licence at Planet Venus nightclub in City Road, Bradford, following two shootings and drug-related deaths.

But today Angela Minott, who has been licensee since the club opened in 1993, said she was shocked by the decision and intended to appeal against it.

The licensing panel at Bradford Magistrates' Court was told that Miss Minott, who was declared bankrupt last year, had not implemented a Drugswatch scheme.

In making its decision to refuse the licence it found that:

l Miss Minott failed to manage the premises properly on numerous occasions

l there were visits by the police when alcohol was being consumed after 10.30pm and loud music was played after 3am, contravening its licences

l major drug dealers were seen on the premises.

Last December the club was stripped of its entertainments licence by Bradford Council for failing to implement the Drugwatch policy.

It is also appealing against that decision.

Miss Minott, 40, of Spring Gardens, Manningham, whose father Pearl Gladstone Minott owns the club, said: "The whole community will be devastated to hear what has happened.

"It was a centre for Jamaicans, Asians and whites.

"We all grew up together and my father has nearly 40 years experience in the business.

"How can we be deemed unfit?"

Tiny Goodall, president of the Manningham Afro-Caribbean Regeneration project, added: "The club serves Bradford Jamaican community of nearly four and a half thousand people. I am a frequent visitor and I never saw any trouble."

In November 2000 two people were shot near the club and in November last year a man was shot outside the club.

Both shootings happened on a Sunday night.

And two men were last year found dead in a flat in West Bowling, Bradford, after buying Drugs at the club and overdosing.