Brighton and Hove is preparing to become one of Britain's first 24-hour party cities.

The city council is close to adopting a licensing policy allowing pubs and clubs to stay open all night.

The authority, which takes over licensing next February, will work on the presumption it is good for the city, both in terms of boosting tourism and reducing the booze-fuelled fights which coincide with the traditional 11pm closing time.

Part of a proposal to be considered by councillors calls for: "A general principle of later opening so customers can leave for natural reasons, slowly over longer periods, to prevent unnatural concentrations of people."

If adopted by the council, pubs and bars could begin opening all night from November 2005.

Concerns have been raised that relaxing licensing rules may encourage binge-drinking and other antisocial behaviour.

John Reading, of Sussex alcohol abuse group Action for Change, said he "dreaded" what would happen if the proposals went ahead.

But Brighton's club bosses said it was about time Britain's "outdated" drinking laws were overhauled.

Kenny Boyle, manager of Audio club and bar in Marine Parade, said he would like to stay open throughout the night until 6am at the weekend.

He said: "The change would be nothing but a good thing. It would bring people down from London and would be good for business in Brighton.

"It would also encourage more of a European culture of drinking. The current law is outdated."