Five Whitby pubs forced to close after 'serious licensing law' breach

Five pubs in North Yorkshire seaside towns have been forced to close after the council found they were operating without a license.

Scarborough Council says there has been a "very serious breach" of the law after the pubs in the Whitby area were found to be unlicensed - for most of 2016.

The hostelries - including three in Robin Hood's Bay - have been operating illegally after the death in December of the landlord Mr Martin Robert Tucker, owned all the pubs.

The council's licensing team was unaware of his passing until this week, and on finding out, had no option but to stop the the sale of alcohol.