A new rule banning taxi and private hire drivers from tooting their car horns to alert customers has been approved.

Worthing's licensing and control committee voted in favour of revisions to a handbook that dictates hire drivers' conduct.

The ban was seen as a "catch-up" rule because most boroughs and districts in England already have powers to punish hire drivers who announce their arrival by sounding horns.

The practice, employed by some drivers in the town, was described in a council report as a "noise nuisance" and unprofessional.

Unless in an emergency, sounding horns in a stationary vehicle is already against the law but banning it through the handbook gives the licensing panel powers to stop a noisy hire driver from operating in the town.

If hire drivers are caught tooting their horns illegally, they risk having their licence to operate in Worthing revoked.