The new rules come into effect on 24 November

Licensing officer Tony Davies said some watering holes in rural Pembrokeshire would change beyond recognition if they stayed open as late as 0300 BST.

There have been over 100 applications to vary opening hours in the county from November under new legislation.

Premises have to re-register under legislation aimed at combating binge drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Local authorities have now taken over the task of licensing pubs, clubs and off-licenses from magistrates.

It follows that the premises are changing out of all recognition from a traditional public house into small nightclub Tony Davies

Mr Davies, licensing officer for Dyfed-Powys Police, said more than 1,000 applications have been submitted with over 100 watering holes seeking extended hours.

He said some traditional village pubs had asked to stay open until 0300 BST on Fridays and Saturdays.

"It follows that the premises are changing out of all recognition from a traditional public house into small nightclub," he said.

Mr Davies has been asking the council's licensing committees to impose conditions such as the need for CCTV, trained door-staff and a cut off time when customers are allowed in.

He has also been asking landlords to cut back their proposals.

'Dog's Breakfast'

"It's not for me to impose hours but, personally, I think most should look at midnight on Sunday through to Thursday and half midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

"I'm concerned that if they go for later opening they will not be able to cope with it. Once it has settled down they can always go back for a extension."

He said most of those he had spoken had revised their applications.

"I'm very pleased that the vast majority have taken the advice and very few have gone against it."

Alan Brooks, chairman of the Pembroke and District License Victuallers Association, said most of his members had only applied to re-register and had not attempted to vary their hours yet.

"As far as I can see the whole thing is chaotic," he said.

Mr Brooks said the paperwork and costs involved were far greater than landlords had originally been told, and doubted whether all the pubs would be registered in time for the 24 November change-over.

He said publicans were getting conflicting advice over opening times and only a handful of his 44 members had applied for a variation order.