Pubs and clubs across north Oxfordshire could be forced to stop serving next month - because just 10 per cent have applied for new-style licences.

The president of Bicester Chamber of Commerce, David Simpson, is promoting a workshop to help landlords

Under the new Licensing Act district councils are responsible for issuing revised licences to pubs and clubs. By August 6 all premises must have been issued with the new-style licence to be allowed to trade.

But, according to Cherwell District Council, only 10 per cent of premises -- 54 out of 500 -- have returned applications.

So far, 145 of up to 1,200 personal licences for premises including off-licences and shops, and 13 of an expected 55 club licences have been applied for.

As reported in the Oxford Mail, the situation mirrors that elsewhere in the county.

Now Bicester Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with Cherwell to hold a workshop in the town.

It follows fears that the forms are just too daunting for people to fill in.

Chamber chairman David Simpson said: "The idea is this is a catch-all form, but it is a massive document and very complicated.

"It is not just filling in a form, you have got to fill in what happens in your pub or club over a year. "It is considerably different than before. It's a catch all for health and safety, public entertainment and alcohol licence.

"But it will simplify the process for the future."

Mr Simpson, who is also chairman of Bicester Town FC, said: "If people do not obtain their licence in time, there will be an awful lot of dry pubs.

"It means there will be no night life in the town centre."

The workshop is at the Littlebury Hotel on Tuesday, July 19, at 6.30pm.

A Cherwell spokesman said: "We have sent comprehensive application packs with guidance to assist.

"We are also hosting workshops for premises and club applications, with invites sent to every premise on our system.

"We've also had articles in the Cherwell Link to reach any premises we may not have information about."

In Oxford itself, 156 applications out of an estimated 770 have been received, 80 out of 650 in South Oxfordshire, 52 out of 625 in the Vale of White Horse and 140 out of 400 in West Oxfordshire.

Licensees should contact their local authority or log onto the Department for Culture Media and Sport website at www.culture.gov.uk