A shopkeeper who was asked to apply for an alcohol licencehas had his application put on hold amid concern over a pending court case.

Manish Kumar, who runs the Day-Today store, Tranent, appeared before East Lothian Licensing Board today (Thursday) to ask for a personal licence to sell alcohol in the shop.

Mr Kumar, who was described as the tenant of the shop, was asked to bring his application to the board after a previous hearing heard he had lodged it with Edinburgh's Licensing Board as he lived in the city.

But at a virtual meeting, the board ruled against granting the licence - instead ordering a six-month continuation of his application.

The board heard that there was a possible pending court appearance involving Mr Kumar in relation to the alleged sale of alcohol to an underage male last October.

Members of the board were told that no date for any court appearance had yet been scheduled and it was unclear whether a case would be going ahead.

Board members took a 40-minute recess to discuss Mr Kumar's application privately before ruling against issuing a licence.

Councillor Fiona Dugdale, board convenor, said: "We are not happy to grant (the licence) today and would like to continue this for six months."