PUBS will be allowed to serve drinks until 12.30am on Christmas Eve and up to 1am on New Year's Eve -- thanks to Bolton's licensing magistrates.

Premises granted a Section 77 Special Hours Certificate (late licence) will be able to keep the beer flowing until 2am on New Year's Eve.

Full times are as follows -- Saturday, December 23, extension from 11pm to midnight; Christmas Eve, extension until 12.30am; Christmas Day, noon until 3pm and 7pm until 10.30pm.

On Boxing Day and Saturday, December 30, there will be a one hour extension until midnight, and, on Sunday, December 31, hours are extended from 10.30pm to 1.00am with an extra hour for those with special late licences.

On New Year's Day, pubs can open an extra hour from 11pm to midnight.