A NORTH-EAST council is urging pubs and clubs to apply for licences for the festive period before it is too late.

Darlington Borough Council has received few applications for public entertainment licences on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, which both fall on Sunday nights.

A spokesman for the council warned licensees there was only one more licensing committee before Christmas, and if those pubs and clubs holding public entertainment licences wanted to operate, they would need to apply soon.

He said: "Those wanting public entertainment licences will also need to apply to us, and we have only had a few so far."

Newcastle City Council also said it had received few applications to extend public entertainment licences for dancing.

A spokesman said: "We are still accepting applications for New Year's Eve for public entertainment licences. We have had about 20 or 30 so far, but the time is getting closer, so it is a case of the sooner the better.

"People should remember that because it is a Sunday, they need special licences for dancing or other public entertainments."

Middlesbrough Borough Council said it had received three or four applications for licences, but that was not unusual. A spokesman said: "If people have an existing licence, they can go before the magistrates' court and seek an extension for Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve."