THE U-turn by the Government over recognising that pubs should be allowed to open later for England’s World Cup matches is sensible.

The tournament is a massive part of public life every four years and to have prevented the usual coming together in pubs and bars across the land would have left a bitter taste in the mouth.

It is also a massive income raiser for the licensed trade and pubs are having a hard enough time without depriving them of this boost.

After all, most of our pubs are far more reasonable in their charging of football fans than the fleecing they face if they want to stump up £90 for the England replica shirt.