Managers of a Mare Street kebab shop were rumbled flouting their opening hours by police who spotted two online ads touting times for four hours longer than they have permission to operate.

Halit Durmaz and Osman Durmaz had posted that Britannia Steak and Kebab Restaurant closed every day at 6am on the Zomato website and at 3am every day on All in London.

The takeaway only has permission to open until 2am weekdays and 4am at weekends.

Mr Durmaz has now applied to extend the licence until 4am weekdays and 5am weekends – but police have urged the licensing committee to reject his application.

“Is too much competition on same street,” states Mr Durmaz in his application. “Because business going low all the time I am hoping extra hours will give benefit to my business. We don’t sale alcohol and we don’t have any music for provoke public nuisance.”

But Pc Kerrie Ryan from the Met’s licensing unit has warned later opening hours would encourage revellers who have left any of the late-night venues nearby to remain in the area, “creating litter and disturbing residents, rather than making their way home.

“Police feel the hours authorised by the current premises licence are sufficient,” she added.

“Other traders in the area have come forwards to police stating they regularly see Britannia opening past their hours, although this has not been witnessed by police. (Advertising longer hours) is also misleading for the pubic and becomes a huge temptation for the venue when late customers arrive expecting to be served. Police note the current hours for sale of hot food are in line with other hot food establishments nearby.”

The licensing committee will make a decision on Thursday.

Pc Ryan pointed out that Britannia is on a “busy main road” which has seen a “huge increase in licenced premises over the past couple of years”. Last week the Gazette reported a new off-licence D Cut has been given permission to open up down the road in Mare Street – although the licensing committee rejected its 24-hour round-the-clock bid.

Neighbours expressed concern the area already suffers from excessive street drinking and anti-social behaviour.