Hundreds of Sussex licensees who missed a deadline to convert their liquor licences risk being banned from selling alcohol.

Pubs, restaurants and shops had until midnight on Saturday to apply to change their licences under new laws switching licensing powers from magistrates to local authorities.

Councils faced a last-minute rush of applications late last week but many licensees did not respond despite a publicity drive.

Those who missed the deadline will lose their "grandfather rights". They can still apply but the process will be more involved and there is no guarantee the licence will be granted.

Councils are warning those who missed the deadline could be banned from selling alcohol when the law comes into force on November 24.

A spokesman for Horsham Borough Council said: "We can't say for certain that anyone who applies now will have their licence granted before November 24.

"After that, they will be trading illegally if they do not have a licence. If they apply now, they will not be guaranteed even the same conditions they have now.

Some 353 out on an estimated 450 establishments in Horsham applied in time. Hastings Borough Council received 285 out of a possible 450 while Crawley Borough Council got an 88 per cent success rate.

Lewes District Council got a 100 per cent success rate while Eastbourne Borough Council experienced a last-minute influx to receive 70 per cent of possible applications.

Rother District Council had 376 applications out of a possible maximum of 436. Wealden District Council received 455 out 512.

By Friday, Mid Sussex District Council had received 336 applications from 450 but anticipated another 50 may have since come in.

Worthing Borough Council said a large bundle had arrived in the past few days to add to the 67 per cent of applications received by Friday.

At the end of last week, Chichester District Council had received 442 out of 600, Arun District Council around 60 per cent and Adur District Council 75 per cent.