FINES of up to £1k have been issued after CCTV footage revealed a string of illegal lock-ins breaching coronavirus restrictions at a Halesowen social club.

Police said they uncovered footage of groups of people drinking and socialising on numerous occasions at Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club during January.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Members of the Halesowen based club allowed people to drink inside the premises on at least 14 separate occasions during January 2021.

"We made enquiries with a local taxi firm who’d received bookings to take people to and from the venue during lockdown.

"Officers attended the premises on the 27 January.

"The allegations put to them were initially denied, but a trawl of their CCTV system found that during the month of January there were multiple breaches.

"Footage inside the premises showed groups of people drinking and socialising."

Halesowen News:

The club on Stewarts Road surrendered its premises licence to Dudley Council and fines were issued.

The police spokesman said: "We worked in partnership with licensing officers from Dudley Council to ensure that the club were dealt with appropriately.

"A number of £200 fines and a £1000 fine were issued to the people involved.

"Those people have been dismissed from the club, and as a result the club have been able to secure a new licence, enabling them to get up and running now that restrictions are being eased."

The club posted a comment on its Facebook page on April 27 stating: "Thanks again to everyone who has come to support the club, we hope to see you all again this bank holiday weekend!!"

On April 19 it had put on a message stating: "Thank you to everyone who came down the club over the last couple of days to welcome and support our new steward, Dawn Bubb.

"It was a fabulous weekend and the weather was fabulous."