PUB landlords have lambasted controversial proposals for a new tax on their trade – saying it would be “another nail in the coffin”.

The Home Office is considering introducing a late night levy on places which sell alcohol to help councils with their clean-up costs.

Each pub or club looking to trade past midnight would face an extra tax anywhere from £299 to £4,400 a year depending on the rateable value of the property.

The money raised from it would then be given to councils and the police to contribute towards their yearly costs for handling the late-night economy.

Kate Moore, of the Virgin Tavern in Tolladine Road, Worcester, said: “All this would do is force more places to close.

“The bigger chains would be able to absorb the cost but smaller places would find it very hard, even £299 is a lot of money for a pub to find.

“It would be just another nail in the coffin – I don’t see why a pub or club should pay it when you’ve got supermarkets able to open 24 hours a day that sell alcohol.”

Ann Holden, who runs the Cross Keys in Malvern, said: “It’s disgraceful and ridiculous – I think it’s a crazy idea.

“We would effectively be being penalised for idiots who cause trouble. I’ve been here 20 years and try to run a decent pub.

“It would not make it worth my while opening past midnight, we’d be forced to shut early.

"This would hit a lot of places very hard because nobody is doing well at the moment.”

The idea has been announced by the Home Office, and forms part of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act.

Hotels, restaurants, theatres, supermarkets, casinos, bingo clubs and cinemas would be exempt from it, as well as country pubs which trade in a village with a population below 3,000.

The cash would then be split between the district council and police force for all costs associated with the late night economy, including street cleaning and rubbish collection.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, leader of Worcester City Council, said: “We’ve got a good balance in terms of the night-time offer at the moment and would not want it to shift – if this is approved we’d need to consider very carefully how we take it forward.”

Consultations over it closed at the start of April and the Home Office is currently sifting through responses before making a firm announcement.

A spokesman said: “'Alcohol-related crime and disorder is a problem for many of our communities.

“These new measures give power back to local areas so they can respond to their individual needs.”