DRINKERS in Bolton will not be able to wash down their breakfast with a quick pint after the town's licensing magistrates refused plans to serve alcohol from 10am.

National pub chain JD Wetherspoon applied to Bolton magistrates for relaxed drinking laws to allow alcohol to be served in pubs from 10 o'clock, but they faced strong police opposition.

Since September, all Westherspoon's bars, including the Spinning Mule on Nelson Square in Bolton, have been opening early to serve breakfast and coffee. The firm wanted a drinks licence to coincide with the morning start. At yesterday's hearing at Bolton Magistrates Court, Karl Davies spent more than an hour putting forward the case for JD Wetherspoon, arguing that it would attract visitors to the town, increase staff working hours and offer customers more choice and flexibility.

He also referred to a report into possible adverse affects of the lengthened drinking hours and stated that it was "unlikely" to increase public disorder or create further problems.

Police concerns mainly surrounded the effects an extra hour would have on the levels of crime in the town. Speaking on behalf of Bolton Police, Graham Robinson said: "In order to grant this application, there must be some need for it. There is no need for this additional hour and it seems very few people would take advantage of it.

"We have heard that it is 'unlikely' to occasion Bolton police problems, but it might, and that is enough to concern us."

Chairman of the Licensing Committee Malcolm Bristow, said: "There has been little support for this change -- this court room has been empty. If there was a requirement in the district there would have been more support.

"We are not satisfied that that there is sufficient need in Bolton for these changes."

Following the decision, Inspector Stan Lewin of Bolton police said: "We are pleased that the Licensing Committee for the town has upheld our objections.

"Our own enquiries within the town centre showed that there was no requirement for the hours to be altered."

If the move had been granted it would have paved the way for every pub in Bolton to apply for an early licence. Instead, licensees will have to wait for the Government's ruling on the relaxation of drinking laws, which could eventually result in 24 hour drinking, seven days a week.