A supermarket has bid for permission to serve alcohol at any hour - but claims it is solely for the last gasp Christmas dash.

Asda on Drayton Road in Hellesdon has applied to Broadland District Council to alter its licence to allow it to sell alcohol 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

This is despite the store no longer opening throughout the night, as it once did Monday to Saturdays.

A spokesman for Asda said the reason for application was the way Christmas falls - with Christmas Eve this year on a Monday.

The spokesman said the store intends to open at a minute past midnight on December 24, allowing people to pick up last minute supplies ahead of their festive celebrations.

Under the current licence terms, while the store would be permitted to open at this time, the sale of alcohol would not be allowed.

The application will be decided in due course.