SCORES of pubs in Darlington look likely to stay open beyond 11pm within a year, under new council regulations.

By the end of next year, some of the town's nightclubs could also stay open longer, giving revellers somewhere to drink and dance after 2am.

Darlington Borough Council plans to stagger the closing times of pubs and clubs in the town, which it hopes will reduce binge drinking and resulting anti-social behaviour.

It is putting the final touches to its new licensing policy, which will come into effect next year, placing more responsibility on landlords to help reduce crime and protect customers.

Yesterday, John Buxton, director of development and environment for the council, said: "We believe many pubs will want to stay open longer and some clubs may want to stay open beyond 2am from next year.

"It should enhance the town, hopefully it will extend the amount of time people spend in the town, there could be more customers."

Every business and landlord in the city needs to apply for a new licence from February and March, which could mean up to 1,400 applications.

Councillors will then have to make the decisions. The council has employed additional staff to help manage the applications.

Traditionally, large numbers of revellers empty into the streets at 11pm and 2am, clogging up takeaways and emptying taxi ranks and leading to problems between frustrated drinkers.

The Government has relaxed its tight licensing regulations to combat the problem, but the decision has been highly controversial.

Mr Buxton said: "The idea is to reduce binge drinking, and anti-social behaviour.

"Both ourselves and the police have concerns over whether this will happen in reality, but we do know a lot of problems come from people who get fed-up with waiting for their takeaway or taxi.

"We will have to wait and see."

From next year, licensing control is handed over to local authorities - in the past it has been implemented by magistrates.

By November next year, the first of the long licences should come into effect.

Pubs and clubs are entitled to apply for 24-hour licences, but Mr Buxton said it was unlikely any business in Darlington would apply for one.