Hundreds of pubs and restaurants could be banned from selling alcohol this Christmas because they have not applied for licences.

Only a few hundred have asked to convert their liquor licences although the deadline is just a month away.

Councils have warned of a "time bomb" situation and say anyone who does not have an updated licence when new laws come into force in November will be unable to serve alcohol.

It could be next year before they are able to process a predicted backlog in late applications.

Landlords have had since February to apply to have their licences converted under changes which switch licensing powers from magistrates to local authorities.

But Brighton and Hove City Council has received just 120 applications from its 1,000 licensed premises ahead of the August 6 deadline.

In East Sussex, Wealden District Council has received only 300 applications out of an expected 1,200.

Eastbourne Borough Council has received 72 out of 400 while in Hastings the figure is 89 from an estimated 450.

Rother District Council has received 126 out of a possible 500 while in the Lewes district, 157 out of about 500 have applied. In West Sussex, by June 21 Arun District Council had received 160 applications from the 800 personal licence-holders while Adur District Council has 18 out of 300.

By June 17 Chichester District Council had only 80 premises applications and 120 personal applications. In Horsham, 67 out of 417 premises have applied.

Mid Sussex District Council has 88 applications out of a possible 480 while Worthing has 57 out of about 350.

Horsham District Council is calling on MPs to remind shops and village halls to convert before the deadline.

If landlords do not apply before next month's deadline they will have to reapply from scratch, which will mean sitting tough new exams as well as additional costs.

Lewes District Council will hold a blitz weekend this month in which it is offering to complete applications on behalf of landlords who are daunted by the complex forms they have to fill in.

Publicans say the forms are too difficult and in Wealden alone 30 per cent have had to be sent back.

Wealden District Council licensing committee chairman Jim Hollins said: "We simply will not have the staff or resources to handle a last-minute rush of new applications."

Jan Leer, principal environmental health officer for Mid Sussex District Council, said: "Most who have not yet applied know they have to apply but are leaving it until the last minute."

Brighton councillor Geoffrey Theobald, chairman of the Local Authorities' Coordinators of Regulatory Services, said: "Many are biding their time to see what their competitors will do in terms of applying for extensions."

Colin Millham, landlord of the King's Arms in George Street, Brighton, and chairman of the Sussex Society of Licensed Victuallers, said: "It costs about £1,000 to complete the application. It is time-consuming and complex."