BLACKBURN landlord Geoff Sutcliffe has been involved in tough talks with the Government over forthcoming reforms in licensing laws.

Geoff, vice-chair of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA), is also landlord of the Rising Sun in Whalley New Road.

Geoff said the FLVA, in talks with the office of Media and Culture, have been fighting for rights for long-standing licensees when reforms come into force in 2004.

Areas of contention, Geoff said, are the need for an entertainment licence for any entertainment event in a pub and the laws involved should a landlord die.