Pubs and bars across Oxfordshire are taking advantage of new licensing laws to apply for extended opening hours.

But while some venues are looking to open to midnight or later, other venues are still being slow in even applying for the renewal of their licence to serve alcohol.

With the August 6 deadline looming, some businesses may have to shut if they have not replaced their old licence -- issued by magistrates -- with a new premises and personal licence from their local authority.

Oxford City Council has received 27 applications from premises wanting to extend their opening hours, all of which are still to be ruled upon.

But it has only had 133 of the estimated 700 applications from premises which need to renew their licence.

Council officers are now advising licence holders to simply update their licence and apply for late opening hours once the rush is over.

In West Oxfordshire, about 140 of the 400 licensees in the district have applied to renew their licence.

Just seven pubs have applied to Cherwell District Council for a late licence under the new Act. None of their applications has been decided yet.

Twenty premises in South Oxfordshire have applied for variations to their current licences, the majority of which are for extended opening hours. Just 70 premises, out of 600 in the area, have submitted their applications.

Jas Lally, head of environmental health at South Oxfordshire District Council, said many licensees were looking for greater flexibility.