THE landlady of a North Yorkshire country pub where alcohol was served to children as young as 14 at a school Christmas party was allowed to carry on serving - "by a millimetre".

A judge at York Crown Court allowed Carole Brown's appeal against the revoking of her drinks licence at the Black Bull pub, on the Pickering to Malton road, saying she was being given one last chance.

Her licence was revoked last May, on the grounds she was unable to manage the place.

The move followed a rowdy party at the pub attended by sixth formers from Lady Lumley's School, Pickering - which ended with police moving in.

The judge said he only allowed her appeal as a final chance because she had since been on a special course and had given several undertakings about the future running of the pub.

Judge Barber said: "On a very technical basis the appeal is allowed. It is as a gesture of hope. We are giving the landlady one last chance. However, it is only by a millimetre."

The judge said the party had been attended by more than 100 youngsters and Mrs Brown had left her 20-year-old son, Jonathan, a former pupil at the school, in charge. The landlady had gone babysitting.

He said they heard Jonathan had no knowledge that people being served drink were under-age.

Judge Barber said the police were met with abuse when they arrived and after they turned everyone out on to the car park it was awash with cans and bottles.

Stephen Drury, appearing for North Yorkshire Police who opposed the licence reinstatement, said: "Mrs Brown had been warned in 1995 about serving alcoholic drink to youngsters when a disco, for the same school, was arranged at the pub for 15 to 17-year-olds."

Ruth Wilson, head girl at Lady Lumley's School at the time, said she organised the party. She said she was served an alcoholic drink although she was only 17 years old and there were children present and drinking alcohol as young as 14. She said she was not asked how old she was.

Judge Barber commented: "It is apparent that youngsters of 14 were drinking. Anybody with any sense would have looked back at what happened before and after that warning."

Mrs Brown was ordered to pay court costs of £2,300, apart from her own legal expenses.

Updated: 11:53 Saturday, February 17, 2001