When rowdy revellers spilling out of a Putney restaurant at 2am were asked to put a cork in it, bosses went one better and shut them up with lollipops.

Nearby residents had complained about the noisy havoc in Lower Richmond Road after closing time at Thai Square restaurant and bar.

One resident, Duncan Laird, said: "Dozens of people hang around for up to an hour shouting, screaming, urinating and vomiting."

So many other residents made the same complaint to the police and Wandsworth council that the restaurant was warned its licence was in jeopardy.

It also suggested to the management they try pacifying their customers with lollipops - and according to restaurant manager Amie Thipsuda the gamble was paying off.

She said: "It might sound stupid, but it works. When people have lollies in their mouths they suck them instead of shouting.

"Some women shout a lot when they're drunk, so we give them more than two lollipops."

The confectionary, called Chocochups, costs the restaurant £25 per night, but according to Thai Square, it is a price worth paying to keep their licence.

On an average night staff hand out between 120 and 150 lollipops to raucous customers when the bar closes.

The restaurant has also attempted to reduce noise levels by removing the speakers at the front of the building and by staggering the release of revellers on to the streets.

Some Putney residents are in any case more forgiving of a bit of noise and argue it is probably inevitable.

Marc Milano said: "I'm sure any venue open until 2am will attract a few heavy drinkers regardless of what it's actually like. Thai Square is a great place to eat and the only cool bar in Putney you can take people to and avoid the walk-a-lout crowd and rude bouncers."

Another resident, John Gorst, added: "You're always going to get that with late bars I'm afraid."