HUNDREDS of pubs and clubs in Blaenau Gwent face losing their alcohol licences, an investigation by the Argus revealed today.

Under new legislation all businesses serving alcohol must apply for a new licence by August 6.

Of the 500 pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and off-licences in Blaenau Gwent only 32 have applied for a licence. In Monmouthshire 500 applications have so far been received and are being processed. Across Gwent, 2,149 licensed premises are yet to apply.

Officials are warning those who do not have a licence when the new system goes live will face prosecution if they continue to trade.

Time could be called early at thousands of Gwent pubs and clubs as council bosses warn of the impending licence crisis.

Under the government's new 24-hour licensing laws, all pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and off-lic-enses must apply for a new licence by August 6 - whether or not they want to extend their opening hours.

But licensing chiefs fear some pubs may be become dry if landlords fail to apply to renew their licences.

To date, four out of Gwent's five councils have received only a handful of the applications needed.

And council bosses are warning any premises that misses the August deadline and does not have a valid licence in place when the new system comes into effect in November will have a dry" Christmas and New Year.

In Newport, just 25 of the city's current 600 licensees have submitted applications.

The situation is much the same in Torfaen where only 73 out of a possible 650 licensees have handed in their forms.

In Blaenau Gwent, officials have received 32 of a possible 500 applications and in Caerphilly the number is 10 of the 539 total.

Only Monmouthshire is bucking the trend with 500 applications so far.

Officials are concerned they may face a late flood of applications and pubs and bars could find themselves temporarily, or even permanently, out of business while the forms are processed.

Forms with errors will not be accepted, adding to the possibility of further delays.

Those who do not have a licence when the new system comes into force will face prosecution if they continue to trade.

Officials say they have done all they can to encourage applications.

Newport city councillor Ray Truman, Cabinet member for community safety, said: "We are keen to avoid a situation where there is a rush to get all these applications processed towards the end of this period.

"This would hold up the process and more importantly cause inconvenience to businesses.

A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent county borough council said: "We have rewritten to all known licensees and are on hand to offer advice and guidance."