MILLENNIUM party animals planning public music and dancing events are being warned to check if they need a licence to have a good time.

Licensing officers are advising anyone intending to hold any kind of public music and dancing event to contact them first.

Councils are responsible for the issue and control of public entertainment licences for any kind of public music and dancing, and charge a basic rate of £40 per occasional licence.

Applications for licences on New Year's Eve are usually rare, but this year numbers are expected to rise.

Licensing bosses in Bolton have yet to receive any applications for the big event, but have warned that anyone intending to hold any kind of public event on the night would need a licence first. Licensing officer Trisha Sloly said: "We haven't had any enquiries yet, but anyone holding any kind of public event would need to contact the appropriate people.

"Anyone intending to sell liquor would need to contact magistrates for a licence, and anyone planning public music would need to speak to us."

A minimum of 28 days notice of application is needed before the grant of a public entertainment licence can be considered and bosses at Salford City Council are advising people to get applications in before the rush.

Salford's corporate services committee chairman, Cllr Derek Antrobus, said: "We have no idea how many applications to expect for Millennium party licences. That's why we are urging organisers to get their applications in soon to avoid delay."

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