With the UEFA European Football Championship set to kick off next month, it has been announced that pubs will be allowed to serve alcohol later if England or Scotland reach the semi-finals.

The move has been welcomed by CAMRA as it could provide a much-needed fillip to the pub trade.

CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said: “CAMRA was pleased to support this extension when it was first proposed, and it’s great to see government listen to consumers and the on-trade, and back our local pubs and clubs in this way.

“Cheering on your team, in the atmosphere of the pub, surrounded by friends and the local community is an experience that you can’t get anywhere else. Recognising the unique nature of the pub in this way is a much-needed boost for licensees, who have faced an uphill struggle to remain profitable in recent years in the face of spiralling costs.

“I know parliament is currently looking at making this kind of licensing extension easier in the future which CAMRA strongly supports. Creating a more responsive mechanism for licensing hours alterations would let pub-goers celebrate the full range and diversity of UK sporting achievement – not just the men’s Euros 2024.”