Police today warned revellers to be "sensible" as pubs and clubs were given the green light to open around-the-clock into the new year.

While Bradford licensees welcomed a ruling allowing them serve continuously from 11am on New Year's Eve to 11pm on New Year's Day, senior police officers urged caution, especially to motorists.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police are happy for people to enjoy themselves over the festive period but would encourage them to be sensible.

"We want everyone to have a have a good time but not at the expense or safety of others."

He added that high-profile patrols would be on the streets over the coming days while traffic officers run a major crackdown against drink drivers.

To protect residents the new law allows anyone living near a licensed premises, along with the police and the local council, to ask for restrictions on opening times.

The longer opening hours apply to all licensed premises such as pubs, bars, nightclubs, discos and members' clubs.

Dean Loynes, of Bradford Inner City Licensees' Association, said: "Since the millennium we have had extended drinking time over the New Year period. It is a good thing as long as drinkers and licensees are responsible and sensible. It has worked well so far. Bradford has improved so much in the last couple of years with CCTV and the radio link between clubs."

John Pennington, who owns and runs Penningtons, agreed it is a good idea, but his club will not be staying open the whole 36 hours.

He said: "The general public and businesses should be able to have freedom of choice of when facilities are open."

But he said businesses may find it difficult to staff premises for that long and people may not want to stay out for 36 hours.

Under the existing law licensed premises must apply to a magistrate to serve alcohol after 11pm on weekdays and 10.30pm on Sundays.

The same applies to New Year's Eve, but the change will allow most to remain open another 24 hours without having to ask a magistrate.

Ministers decided extend drinking hours on New Year's Eve permanently following two years of successful trials.