Plans to open a vape shop next to Hampton Green playground have been scrapped after furious parents complained.

Families raised concerns more youngsters would end up vaping and drinking if Vape Tech Group Limited opened a new shop in Hampton, selling alcohol and vapes from 7am to 11pm every day, also just a four-minute walk from Hampton Junior School.

Residents slammed the plans for being 'inappropriate' as the venue is next to Hampton Village Green, a children's playground and Hampton station, which is used by teenagers going to school and back home every day.

They claimed this would tempt more youngsters to congregate on the green to vape and drink.

A total of 34 objections were lodged against the application, with other concerns including the possibility of increased antisocial behaviour from drunk customers disturbing residents' sleep.

Resident Caroline Lewis wrote: "Being open until 11pm for the sale of alcohol will cause noise and disturbance for local residents [and] antisocial behaviour due to people buying alcohol late at night when they have already had enough to drink.

"Many children walk past this shop on their way to/from school and may be adversely influenced and/or affected by the sale of alcohol and vaping products. The opening hours of 7am to 11pm mean that children will be exposed to this all day long."

Clare Jeffery commented: "I believe a further shop will only contribute to increased antisocial behaviour, to more litter, to more pollution, and to a negative influence on the many children and teenagers who use Hampton Green and playground and who use the station and nearby bus stops."

Helen Pickett added: "Hampton is in need of many other types of shops but not this." The application described Vape Tech Group Limited as an 'experienced and successful food retailer' that had added conditions to the licence to make sure the shop did not cause any problems in the area. A licence is not needed to sell vapes.

Richmond Council was set to hold a licensing hearing on August 22 to decide on the application, which also requested opening hours of 7am to 11pm every day, but the applicant withdrew the plans before it could go ahead.