A northern soul fan is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first club by reintroducing the music to his hometown's nightlife.

Chris Chapman hopes many music buffs who came to his Sunday night soul parties in Worthing in 1973 will return for reunions.

Mr Chapman, along with DJs Stuart Russell and Gerald Rudd, attracted many revellers to the party nights they held in the front bar of the former Montague Arms pub in the town centre.

The bar was owned by Mr Chapman's father Sammy, a former mayor of Worthing.

Northern soul clubs began springing up in the North in the Sixties and early Seventies, inspired by singers such as Marvin Gaye, Edwin Starr and Aretha Franklin along with more obscure acts.

Mr Chapman believes the success of his Northern soul nights owed much to the nearby Teville Gate and British Home Stores developments being built at the time.

He said most of the workforce came from Sheffield and were keen followers of the genre.

Worthing youngsters who grew to enjoy the music then began travelling further afield to all-night parties across the UK.

Mr Russell wrote about the "Worthing effect" in his book The In Crowd, devoted to the history of Northern soul.

Now, Mr Chapman believes the time is right to rekindle the Northern soul flame in the town.

He said: "You've only got to watch the likes of the Kentucky Fried Chicken ads to realise Northern soul has once again entrenched itself into British popular culture.

"The music is timeless, full of quality and the driving rhythm is compelling to dance to."

The current KFC advert features The Who Who Song by Jackie Wilson and music writer Stuart Maconie has recently presented a series about Northern soul on Radio 2.

Mr Chapman, who has teamed up with two friends, Steve McMahon and Damian LeBas, said: "Steve had been working in New York for several years as a DJ and I knew he was coming back to England with his records.

"It seemed like a perfect combination. Steve and Damian have been collecting soul records for the best part of 25 years and understand the Worthing tradition.

"It will also be lovely to personally greet some of my friends from all those years ago at the door - just like at the Montague."

His firm, Chapmans Group, owns more than 30 pubs and clubs across Sussex.

The Northern soul night, called the Worthing Soul Club, will take place at Just So in Railway Approach, Worthing, on the first Sunday of every month.

Mr Chapman said if demand was good, he could use the next-door venue he owns, Xs, for a second sound system.

For more details, see www.worthingsoulclub.co.uk