WORCESTER revellers may soon be able to extend their weekend clubbing to Sunday nights following a change in the law.

A new order came into force last month that will allow nightclubs and other venues licensed to provide music and dancing on a Sunday, to apply for an extension to the Sunday alcohol licence hours.

The Deregulation (Sunday Licensing) Order 2001 replaces the 200-year-old Sunday Act which previously only licensed premises to run until 10.30pm on a Sunday, and extended hours could only be granted from Monday to Saturday.

Under the new order, extension on Sundays can be granted up to 12.30am or 2am if the Monday falls on a bank holiday.

Venues will be required to notify the local authority before the application is made and local residents will be given the chance to object to any extensions granted on Sunday on the grounds of disturbance or annoyance.

"We're living behind the times with opening hours," Councillor Mike Layland told fellow members of a city council licensing committee this week.

"However, local residents should be made aware of the possible disturbance they could face when applications are received. A lot of people respect the usual hours over the weekend but respect the peace and quiet they have been getting on a Sunday."

So far, Worcester City Council has received applications from city centre pubs and clubs Chicago Rock Caf, Bushwackers, O'Neill's, and Torch to vary their public entertainment licenses to allow Sunday night dancing.

The council has received objections to the Chicago Rock application and councillors agreed to defer a decision until the next licensing sub-committee meeting in June to consult with people living nearby.

But Scott Oldfield, deputy manager at Chicago Rock, said the company's proposal to extend its opening hours to 1am would reduce noise.

"The later time allows people to leave over a longer period meaning there isn't a build up of people waiting for friends outside," he said.

"But it's not just our customers. People from other clubs and pubs walk around the area making noise but because Chicago Rock is closest to residents, they assume it's our customers."