Booze ban pub finally gets a new licence

A family who were forced to serve soft drinks only after failing to change their pub's licence details within a week of their father's death, are able to sell alcohol again.

The Hyland family, who run the Dyffryn Arms in Neath, South Wales finally received their new premises license on May 1.

The family invited loyal regulars over for a celebration to thank them for their support during the 28 days the pub was barred from selling alcohol.

Victoria Keygan, daughter of former licensee John who died in March, said: "We got the full licence through on May 1. We have been forced to wait, nothing was rushed through.

"We were getting quite worried as the day before we had not heard anything and we had planned a celebration with all the locals to say thank you for their support.

"It's a relief but we don't think it should have happened."

The family plan to lobby to change legislation that stipulates that the licence must be changed within seven days of the licence holder's death.

They have started a petition that so far has more than 400 signatures. There are plans for local MP Bethan Jenkins to present the petition to the Welsh Assembly.