RESIDENTS are worried a drinking den will re-open after a series of raids to curb the club's illegal activities.

The club, below a legitimate business on New Cross Road, has been a target of Lewisham Council's Environmental Enforcement Team and the police for more than three years.

Teaming up for the second time in four weeks, the authorities raided the bar on May 3, confiscated musical equipment and gave warnings in relation to trading without a licence.

Neighbours are worried the den will re-open as the authorities have previously failed to stop the drinkers returning.

Susan Higgins, of Florence Road, New Cross, has to walk past the site which is below residential housing.

The 34-year-old tour operator said: "The area is already a target for street robberies. I am scared each time I walk home late at night from New Cross Station."

She added: "The people running the bar have brought the area into further disrepute and the council should have the power to shut it down.

"Why has it not been closed before now and what will happen if it opens again?"

Councillor Gavin Moore, Deputy Mayor of Lewisham said: "In enforcing the law, we must operate within the law ourselves.

"Dealing with this problem is not as simple as boarding up the front door."

He added: "We will continue to work in partnership with the police, fire brigade and other agencies to ensure we take every possible course of action to protect the residents of the properties above this premises and the people visiting it."

Sergeant Nicholas Pendleton, of the New Cross Safer Neighbourhood team, confirmed the police support the council on raids and are looking at ways to tackle the problem.