A vicar is to apply for a drinks licence so he can sell wine and beer at his small village church.

The Reverend Geraint ap Iorwerth could be made licensee of St Peter ad Vincula Church in Pennal, near Machynlleth, close to the Powys-Gwynedd border...

"We have plans to serve lager and red and white wine - that is what the average punter wants."

He added: "We also want to serve drinks at a cafe at the rear of the church.

"We have also received requests from people planning weddings who would like drinks and canapés after their service and before the reception.

"It would be nice to serve drinks at concerts, Christmas and New Year's Eve too.

"A small bar is a possibility. I would love to think that at certain times of the year people could come down in the evening to have a drink."

Nobody minds a man having a morning eye-opener and it's OK to have a bracer about 10 A.M. and a couple of drinks before lunch. A few beers on a hot afternoon keeps a man healthy, or at least happy. And, of course everyone drinks at a cocktail hour. A man can't be criticized for having wine with his dinner, a liqueur afterwards, and a highball or two during the evening. But this business of sip, sip, sip, all day long has got to stop!