DRINKERS will be able to celebrate late into the night during the festive season.

Licensing magistrates have announced a range of extra opening hours for pubs and restaurants around Bolton.

But court officers have stressed that each individual licensee must apply in writing and send a £10 fee before they take advantage of the extra hours during the Christmas and New Year period.

The full list of special opening hours for the festive season is: Sunday December 23, and Monday December 24, 11am to 12.30am; Tuesday December 25, noon-3pm and 7-10.30pm; Wednesday December 26 to Saturday December 29, 11am to midnight; Sunday December 30, 11am to 12.30am; Monday December 31, 11am to 1am; Tuesday January 1, 2002, 11am to midnight.

A spokesman for the licensing magistrates said: "To qualify for the late licences at Christmas and New Year, landlords must apply to the court in writing and send their fee."

In previous years pubs have been able to take advantage of festive licensing hours without making individual applications.