A SUPERMARKET has announced controversial plans to sell alcohol 18 hours a day—because of events such as the Olympics.

Bosses at Morrisons in Bury Road, Breightmet, have applied to Bolton Council for permission to open — and sell alcohol — from 6am to midnight daily.

The idea has infuriated councillors who have questioned why supermarket chiefs believe people need to buy booze at 6am.

But staff from the firm claim they want to make it easier for people working irregular hours to shop and for summer revellers enjoying events such as the Euro 2012 football championships and the London Olympics to buy alcohol.

A Morrisons spokeswoman said: “We have made an application to extend our opening hours in order to give customers greater flexibility when they do their weekly shop.”

She added people might want to stock up on food and drink at times “such as during the Olympics this summer.”

The supermarket currently opens on Mondays to Saturdays from 8am to 11pm and on Sundays from 10am to 10.30pm.

It was a Netto before owners Asda sold the branch in April 2011 after the Office of Fair Trading ruled Asda could not own a store so close to the one at Burnden Park.

Breightmet councillor Lynda Byrne said: “I just don’t understand the logic behind the alcohol element of this application at all.

“Why on earth would anyone need to go out and buy a bottle of wine at 3am or 4am?

“Like many areas, Breightmet has problems with alcohol and associated issues and this will not help at all.

“It will lead to more alcohol- related crime and a deteriorating of health within our community.

“I would encourage Morrisons to think again and the council to dismiss this application.”

Bolton Council’s licensing committee is expected to make a decision on the issue in the next two months.