PUBS and clubs across the Cotswolds, Vale of Evesham and Stratford will be open to welcome in the New Year after being given extended licensing hours for New Year's Eve.

Stephen Murphy, of the Green Dragon in Evesham, is chairman of the area's Licensed Victuallers Association. He said a license had been granted to Worcester and Vale premises to open until 1.30am on New Year's Day instead of the usual 10.30pm Sunday closing time.

In Stratford, most places will be open until 12.30pm, while in Gloucestershire police and county magistrates supported an extension to serve alcohol until 3am.

The only condition is that licensees do not admit anyone to their premises after 11pm as in previous years.

The extra hours in Gloucestershire were applied for by the Licensed Victuallers Association following liaison with Chief Insp Mike Barton, of the Cotswolds and Stroud division.

He said: "The reason behind the extension of licensing hours is to give the public more flexibility and choice over how long they celebrate.

"We hope that by giving people more drinking time there will be fewer reports of alcohol-related offences and disorder due to the dramatic alcohol consumption over a short period.

"With longer hours we also believe revellers are more likely to leave premises of their own accord rather than being turned out at closing time, reducing the number of people on the streets at any one time, making policing of New Year's Eve more manageable."

He added: "There has been a great deal of consultation between ourselves, the LVA and magistrates over this issue and our joint aim is to help make New Year's Eve a safer and more crime-free event, with fewer disorder incidents so the public can enjoy a trouble-free celebration."