MAGISTRATES in Cwmbran are considering Gwent's first applications for extended drinking hours during this summer's World Cup.

The Haywain in Sandy Lane, Caldicot, and O'Neill's in Newport's Upper Dock Street, want to open early in the morning to screen England's first-round group matches at the start of the tournament.

Each has asked magistrates for permission to open from 10am to 2pm for the match against Sweden on Sunday, June 2, and from 7am to 11am for the Nigeria game on Wednesday, June 12.

O'Neill's also wants to serve customers cheering on the Republic of Ireland in their opener against Cameroon between 7am and 11am on Saturday, June 1.

A letter was read to the court from O'Neill's solicitors, stating: "Since the advent of Sky and digital TV and the screening of live games in public houses, British sports fans now consider watching major sporting events in a communal atmosphere almost as good as watching the event itself. Due to the participative nature of sports viewing, there is a desire to recreate some of the atmosphere of the stadia.

"Home nation games are of national significance and for our sports fan customers, the kick-off times created by the time-zone difference represent a matter of inconvenience." The letter added that the matches would all be televised live to customers.

The court heard how case law had been brought into force in England, following the rejection of a similar application by a publican.

An appeal against the decision succeeded at the divisional court, at which the justices ruled that such cases became eligible for extensions to their licence if they met the criteria for special occasions, such as showing matches on big screens to a large number of people - as opposed to a small group via a TV on the end of the bar - and providing food.

But magistrates want to know exactly what facilities will be provided to coincide with the matches and adjourned the cases until May 9.

Gwent Police licensing officer Jim Aitken said that a number of other applications were in the pipeline.

*PICTURED: Barman Anthony Clark and relief manager Ursula Haller in O'Neill's, Newport.