Hundreds of pubs, shops and restaurants in Sussex risk being banned from selling alcohol unless they apply for new licences by midnight tonight.

Licensing authorities across the county have been hit with a barrage of last-minute applications from landlords desperate to get in before the deadline.

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

Anyone who misses the deadline will have to reapply. They will face additional costs, more work and there is no guarantee they will be granted their existing rights to sell alcohol.

Anyone who does not have a new licence by November will be banned from selling alcohol.

A fortnight ago it looked like thousands of licensed premises would miss the deadline. But after a big publicity drive councils are confident most licensees will apply on time.

By Tuesday, 91.5 per cent of the expected pub and club applications had been received by Brighton and Hove City Council and officers were expecting a 100 per cent response by this morning.

Some 233 pubs in the city have applied to extend their opening hours under the powers of the Licensing Act 2003.

Head of environmental health and licensing Tim Nichols said: "Despite predictions we have had hardly any applications for 24-hour licensing."

Lewes District Council has had a 100 per cent response rate, with 350 applications in the past two weeks.

The council offered to complete the applications on behalf of landlords daunted by the complex forms.

In Eastbourne only 66 per cent of premises had applied by yesterday but forms were still coming in and officers were expecting many more today.

Hastings Borough Council was expecting 70 per cent of applications and by yesterday morning had received 330 forms from 420 premises.

Licensing manager Bob Brown said: "We are slightly disappointed with that number, especially since licensees have been made aware about this since February. The last-minute rush has created a lot of pressure for my officers."

In Wealden some 80 per cent of premises had applied yesterday while Rother District Council was expecting more than 70 per cent of venues to reach the deadline.

A spokesman said: "We are expecting some places, like guest houses, which previously had licences will let them lapse because they do not sell alcohol anymore."

In Worthing 67 per cent of premises had applied while in Chichester only 51 per cent of applications had been received.

That figure rose to 85 per cent in Crawley with 64 per cent in Horsham.

Adur District Council had received 75 per cent of applications and the worst-faring council was Arun with just 40.1 per cent.

In Mid Sussex 336 premises had applied out of 450.

A spokesman for Mid Sussex District Council said: "Licensees who have missed the August deadline will now be involved in the much lengthier and more complex situation of having to apply as a new applicant."

Mike Lyons, licensing officer for Crawley Borough Council, said: "Although we've had a rush of applications in the last few days, the work we did over the last few months to encourage early applications has really paid off."

Simon Jones, a licensing officer at Worthing Borough Council, said: "The applications are pouring in this week with many licensees waiting until the last minute."

Councillor Bernard Baldwin, chairman of the licensing committee at Horsham District Council, said: "Failure to return your completed form to by the deadline will definitely mean serious complications for your business."