A group charged with saving live music has said a change in licensing law is needed to help small gigs.

The Live Music Forum, headed by ex-Undertone Feargal Sharkey, was set up by the Government to report on how the music scene can be improved.

It has now published some conclusions and says recent regulations which combine licences for alcohol and entertainment are working against some venues.

The rules, introduced in 2005, have seen bureaucratic glitches such as singers being told they cannot perform religious songs and a landlady needing to vary her licence so a group of elderly men can meet to sing folk songs.

The forum recommended certain venues and performances should be exempt from regulations.

Sharkey said: "The UK's live music scene is a massive success, but the government needs to do more to help grass roots musicians and particularly small venues.

"We believe that a pub putting on an acoustic folk trio, for example, should not need a licence. That small acoustic gig does not impact on crime, disorder or public safety so should not fall under the remit of the licensing laws.

"It's these little rooms in the back of little pubs that sustain the £6 billion business known as the music industry."