The first landlord in Bradford is set to apply for a licence to allow him to serve beer with breakfasts during the World Cup Finals.

Andrew Stanger, pictured, is preparing to ask the city's licensing magistrates for permission to open his city centre pub, the Jacobs Well, for England's qualifying games in group F.

Many games during June's finals in Japan and South Korea will be screened live on TV early in the morning because of the time difference.

Magistrates will have to decide whether to grant permission for the publican to serve his customers in what could be a test case for licensees across the city.

If Mr Stanger and his wife Lesley, who is the licensee, are successful it could clear the way for others to follow in their footsteps.

The 43-year-old said: "I think all the licensees are waiting until someone puts in the first application and then waiting to see what the magistrates decide.

"The main game is England against Argentina, which I think kicks off at 12.30pm our time. We'd like to open a couple of hours before the game so people can get relax and get into the spirit."

Mrs Stanger, also 43, said: "There are more people interested in watching the World Cup than the Golden Jubilee and there's no restrictions on the licensing hours over the Jubilee weekend.

"It's just a bit of a novelty. We're providing a service people want and our customers keep on asking what we are going to do, so we felt we've got to act.

"We are not talking about serving drunks who will then spill out onto the street, but people who want a couple of drinks while they support their country."

The Magistrates' Association has advised JPs across the country to reject any applications to serve early morning.

But a group of licensees in Northampton has already successfully applied for permission to open up early for games.

A Magistrates' Association spokesman said case law set down in 1978 dictated that football matches were not regarded as special events.

The spokesman said: "Scottish and Newcastle Breweries have lodged an appeal against that decision and we are waiting for the result.

"Until then our advice to licensing panels is not to grant special licences in accordance with the 1978 case law."