THE biggest shake up of Britain's licensing laws since 1964, which are set to come into force tomorrow, are likely to leave Bromsgrove seeing little difference.

None of the town's pubs, clubs and other premises selling alcohol has applied to the district council for a new round the clock licence.

Nationally there has been great concern that 24-hour opening will fuel the already much publicised binge drinking culture that has resulted in many town and city centres becoming no-go areas for many, especially at weekends.

And many living near pubs and clubs are fearing they are about to suffer more than at present from drunken yob behaviour.

Most pubs in the Bromsgrove area have, however, applied for and been granted permission to open for a few hours earlier in the day or for the odd hour after their current closing time.

This is especially at weekends, bank holidays or on other key dates such as patron saints days.

One new requirement is that from tomorrow premises providing entertainment by two or more performers, such as a singing duo, have to be licensed. At present they do not.

Thursday is the culmination of months of hard work and preparation by the council's principal licensing officer, Sharon Smith, the police, and representatives of the licensed trade - notably Richard Scott landlord of the Red Lion in High Street.

Paying tribute to the hard work Councillor Alan Dent (Con-Marlbrook), who chairs the district council's licensing committee, said there had been 17 appeal hearings resulting from objections from the public to proposed extended hours. Fifteen had been settled by the sub-committee, while two went to the magistrates' court.

PC Paul Bott, licensing officer for Bromsgrove, said shift patterns will have to change to put more officers on the streets at night.

He added it will initially be a case of 'suck it and see' for police as some landlords may opt to close before their permitted times.

On a positive note he said the new hours should see an end to the present mass exodus of drinkers onto the streets at closing time.