Football fans hoping to sip a pint in their favourite Bradford pub while watching England's progress in the World Cup could go thirsty.

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

A group of eight licensees in Northampton has already successfully applied for permission to open up early for games to be broadcast at 7.30am and 10.30am.

But, so far, landlords in Bradford have failed to make even one application to the city's licensing magistrates for special licences to serve beer with customers' breakfasts.

The Magistrates' Association has advised JPs across the country to reject any applications to serve early morning. But the chairman of Bradford Council licensing committee, Councillor Martin Smith (Cons, Ilkley), said he was surprised by the apparent lack of interest.

He said: "It's considered a special occasion and maybe early serving needs to be considered. I'm a football fan but I couldn't be bothered to go down to the pub at that time to watch a game."

Dean Loynes, the chairman of the Bradford Inner City Licensees Association, queried how popular early morning drinking would be.

He said: "I think local pubs will probably apply for an extension, but I don't think it's a big puller for city centre landlords. It all depends on how England do in the World Cup.

"If they get knocked out in the first rounds then there's no point, but if the boys get through to the later stages maybe more will want to watch the game with a beer.

"The Northampton case could be precedent-setting so we'll just have to see how many come forward."

Bradford City and England supporter Chris Sampson, 38, from Eccleshill, said he was hoping some of his local pubs would apply for extensions.

He said: "Although we are on the other side of the world, we are still very much involved.

"I'm already looking at booking time off from work to watch the England games and I'd much rather be in the pub than at home getting under everyone's feet!""