PUBS in Bolton could soon be selling alcohol from as early as 10am.

A national pub chain is attempting to change the licensing law in the town to allow pubs to open one hour earlier for the serving of alcohol.

J D Wetherspoon's has lodged an application with Bolton magistrates to permanently bring forward the alcohol-serving hours. If granted every pub in Bolton will be able to open earlier.

The pub group also intends to eventually seek a relaxation of the morning opening hours at its pubs in towns throughout the whole of Greater Manchester.

Wetherspoon's Bolton pub, the Spinning Mule, in Nelson Square, has been opening at 10am since September to serve breakfast including tea and coffee.

Because of existing rules, it can only serve alcohol from 11am but the pub wants to see that law altered.

If the proposal to alter the Bolton Licensing Act of 1964 is passed and the general licensing hours are modified, the change would affect every pub in the borough.

Alan Meadows, principal legal advisor at Bolton Magistrates, said: "This will radically alter opening times if passed. Wetherspoon's appears to want to bring the hours for serving alcohol forward across the entire county."

Bolton has seen an explosion of pubs and bars over the last year with notable big names including The Goose, in Deansgate, and Pepper Alley, in Manor Street.

Opening them up to serve alcohol at 10am would mean pubs operating just an hour after the shops open at 9am.

Jane Hart, manager of the Spinning Mule, said: "We have had no firm details from our legal department on this issue but opening at 10am for breakfast has been a success.

"Some people do ask if we can serve alcohol at that time so I guess there is a demand for it."

A meeting will be held at Bolton Magistrates Court in Bolton at 10am on Wednesday, February 5, where people will be invited to make representations.

Cathy Savage, manager of the Bolton Town Centre Company, said: "I have some concerns. Is there really a demand for the serving of alcohol at 10am? What sort of people would want to drink at that time and are they the kind which we want in the town centre?

" I would think 11am is early enough for alcohol. I have no objections to pubs opening early to serve tea, coffee and soft drinks though."

John Jewitt, landlord of the Man and Scythe pub in Churchgate, said: "I'm all in favour of it. The more we go down this continental route, the better."

But Donna Morris, landlady of the Railway Hotel, in Egerton Street, Farnworth, said: "We wouldn't take advantage of any new ruling mainly because we used to open at 11am and found that even then people weren't coming in. We open at noon now. This potential move will benefit the town centre more."