Nearly a dozen bars and pubs in Epsom and Ewell have won awards for not having any alcohol-related incidents in the last year.

In a ceremony at the town hall earlier this month 11 establishments in the borough were officially recognised with the awards, which began in 2006.

As the authority responsible for licences, Epsom Council works with the police to monitor premises, and, if an alcohol-related incident happens, they work with the licensee to address the issues to avoid the need for a review or other formal action.

The awards were given to premises which are a part of Pubwatch, a crime prevention scheme which is organised and run by licensees, and which required no intervention measures to address alcohol-related disorder in the last year, ending in May 2013.

The landlord or manager of the premises must have also been in place for three months and must have attended at least half of the monthly Pubwatch meetings in the previous year.

Councillor David Mayall, chairman of the licensing committee, said: "The awards recognise the achievements of our town’s pubs and clubs in maintaining safe venues whilst actively supporting Pubwatch.

"We are reviewing our statement of licensing policy this year, but the awards will still be very much be part of the policy, as we, the licensing authority and police wish to ensure that premises continue to be rewarded for this positive work."

The pubs and bars which received awards were: The Assembly Rooms, Bar XLR, Boogie Lounge, Epsom Common Working Men’s Club, The Marquis of Granby, The Hogsmill Tavern, The Jolly Coopers, Slug and Lettuce, The Station Inn, Acorn 30, and Ye Olde Kings Head.