Councils in Wales are worried that a large number of pubs face closure after the start of the new licensing regime on 24 November, because application rates remain too low.

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said it was now looking at dealing with large-scale non-compliance, after research found just 10% of expected applications had arrived at council offices by last month.

Cardiff, one of the biggest licensing areas in Wales, with 1,200 licensed businesses, had received only 140 applications, with a large percentage rejected.

Steven Thomas, WLGA director, urged businesses to get their applications in now. "Despite many Welsh councils encouraging applicants, we are concerned over the low numbers of applications received to date."

Thomas predicted a rush in the remaining weeks before the 6 August licence conversion deadline. If businesses submit applications after that date, there will be no guarantee that they will be able to keep their existing opening hours and conditions.

Businesses that haven't been granted a new licence by their council by the November start-date will have to close or face prosecution.