WORCESTER pub chiefs have disputed claims that relaxing licensing hours will spark an increase in alcohol-fuelled violence.

It comes as new Home Office figures reveal attacks in West Mercia pubs and clubs topped 800 last year.

Controversial new laws paving the way for 24-hour drinking came into force last week.

Critics, including health chiefs, MPs and police chiefs, have warned this would see Britain's binge-drinking "epidemic" escalate.

But Mike Stevens, landlord of The Toby Tavern, in Sansome Street and chairman of Worcestershire Licensees' and Victualler's Association, said he disagreed.

"The violence we have now is a problem and an ongoing situation, and people in the trade work closely with the police to combat it," he said.

"There is nothing to support the view that increased drinking times and licensing hours leads to increased violence.

"In fact there's a view that it will reduce the figures by dispersing people onto the streets at different times."

The new Home Office figures show 882 violent offences were committed in and outside licensed premises in West Mercia in the year to March 2004.

The West Midlands topped the league of shame for violent incidents on licensed premises with 4,140 incidents.

The figures were revealed by Police Minister Hazel Blears in a Parliamentary written answer to a question by Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster.

But Stewart Bellerby, manager of RSVP in The Cross, Worcester, also said he felt drink-related violence would decrease.

"Relaxing licensing hours will mean there are less problems because people aren't rushing drinking," he said.

"The reason people binge drink is because they cram it down as fast as they can in the time they have."