At least 35 proprietors are selling alcohol illegally, it emerged yesterday.

Liquor Licensing Board deputy chairman Kay Trerice told The Royal Gazette : "These are well known places including hotels.'' Ms Trerice said there was a collection of liquor licences at Magistrates' Court which should have been collected and displayed a fortnight ago.

"These must be displayed before these places can sell alcohol. They should have been on display by April 1.'' She said there were four proprietors in the eastern area, 25 in the central parishes and seven from the west end of the Island who had not picked up their licences.

Ms Trerice added that there were other places which did not even have their sanitary certificates from the Health Department yet. These were needed before the board would sign the new licences.

"The Police know about this but they need to tighten up control of it,'' she added.

Police Media Relations officer Evelyn James Barnett said: "It is true that the new liquor licences were to have been displayed as of April 1.

"Police are very much aware that there are some proprietors who apparently have not picked up, and are not displaying their licences.'' Mrs. James Barnett said the Inspector in charge of this area had visited a good number of the offenders and cautioned them.

But she added: "Officers have been told, however, that some of the licence certificates have yet to be signed by the proper licensing authorities, and the proprietors have been instructed to return to court to collect their signed licences at a later date.'' Mrs. James Barnett said Police officers would be conducting further checks through the weekend and early next week to monitor the situation.

"Appropriate measures will be taken where necessary,'' she added.