COLD winds may be blowing through Southampton, sub-zero temperatures freezing pedestrians to the marrow - but, if people want, they will now be able to enjoy continental-style dining.

Forget Paris, bye-bye Barcelona - the new "in" place to be seen alfresco dining is Southampton.

According to city chiefs, global warming means that diners can now take advantage of a continental-style cafe culture all year round.

City bosses have decided to extend the time that bars and cafes can put tables and chairs outside their premises to any time of the year.

It means that Southampton's streets will now look and feel more like their sophisticated European counterparts - even if it means eating your chicken tikka-masala sandwich in Moscow-like temperatures.

The relaxation of the licensing laws, which used to restrict bars and cafes to alfresco dining between April and October, means residents and visitors to the city will now be able to enjoy eating out at any time of the year.

Continental cafe society first hit Southampton in June five years ago when city chiefs allowed tables and chairs to be placed outside cafes and restaurants during the hot summer months.

But a pilot scheme at the King Alfred pub in Northam, near the St Mary's football stadium, has been so successful that city bosses have decided to extend all-year opening to all parts of the city.

Richard Dobson, owner of O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bar in London Road, has been one of the first cafe owners to take advantage of the new licences.

He said: "We put the tables out last year when we got the licence and we were looking at a 30 per cent increase in our trade. It was phenomenal."

Southampton City Council's Cabinet member for the environment Councillor Richard Williams said the city's new alfresco dining arrangements would mean that foreign football supporters could enjoy the benefits of eating out continental-style if their team played Southampton.

Saints will qualify to play European football if they win this Sunday's crunch FA Cup semi-final game against Watford and Portuguese giants Benfica could be one of the team's opponents, according to Cllr Williams.

He said: "I'm really please that we are taking this more European attitude to eating and drinking.

"It will be great when we host Benfica in the UEFA Cup that their fans will be able to enjoy a glass of wine in the open air as they would at home in Portugal."