NEW laws allowing the sale of alcohol 24 hours a day have led a licensing authority to consider changing its policy.

Hartlepool Borough Council yesterday published its draft licensing policy, which deals with issues surrounding round-the-clock pub opening.

The law will come into force next year and the council has outlined ways to deal with possible social problems caused by the act.

Licensers will require landlords to ensure their pubs are neighbour friendly, if they want to keep their licence.

The council's head of public protection and housing, Ralph Harrison, said: "We will be using all of the powers available to us to ensure that those premises that do open longer do not cause trouble for local residents and we will be encouraging other agencies to take a similar approach."

Hartlepool councillors will discuss the new act at a scrutiny meeting on Friday, at the Civic Centre, at 3pm.

The policy can be viewed on the internet at www.hartlepool.gov.uk or by calling into Hartlepool Civic Centre for a printed copy.