REVELLERS are gearing up for a round-the-clock party to bring in the New Year.

The Government has announced that pubs and clubs can open for an unbroken 36-hour period, starting at 11am on December 31 and ending at 11pm on New Year's Day.

However, in a separate move, the police have also been given sweeping new powers to crackdown on alcohol-related crime and disorder in the borough.

Officers now have the power to close premises for up to 24 hours if a pub or club is deemed to be disorderly. The aim is to encourage landlords to take measures to prevent drunken, violent and abusive behaviour.

Welcoming both new laws, Bury's Chief Superintendent Phil Hollowood said: "As far as the New Year celebrations are concerned, all my officers want to see is people enjoying the occasion in a safe, law-abiding manner.

"However, the new police power is designed to encourage landlords to take measures to prevent disorder from occurring on their premises and to prevent serious disturbance to local residents. "This does not just cover the New Year's Eve celebrations and will be used if necessary at any time to crackdown on pubs where drunkenness and violent behaviour are allowed."

As part of the New Year's Eve rules, the police, local authorities and local residents have the right to seek restriction orders from magistrates courts. If granted, these orders would prevent premises likely to cause disorder or disturbance from benefiting from the longer hours.

People anxious about longer drinking hours on New Year's Eve, and who wish to seek restriction orders in respect of particular premises, are being encouraged to move swiftly to get their applications before the courts.