The owners of an alleged cannabis cafe in Worthing say they have closed the premises down in the face of intense police pressure.

A Friends of Worthing KoffeeShops spokeswoman said a "police siege" had convinced those running the enterprise not to reopen.

The cafe, in Brougham Road, had been the focus of major controversy in the town, prompting complaints from some who felt it lowered the tone of the neighbourhood and praise from others who had seen the area around the site being improved by staff.

Police conducted a series of raids at Buddy's after similar efforts closed another suspected cannabis cafe in Rowlands Road.

But the cafe owners' determination to keep open prompted officers to continually patrol outside the premises.

We reported on Wednesday how Detective Inspector Nigel Brown, who led the operation at Buddy's, declared the tactics had been a success.

In a written statement, the Buddy's spokeswoman said there were no plans to start trading again because the cafe was proving to be a waste of police resources.

She said: "After a year of trading we have decided to close the koffeeshop. The week of police 'siege' proved that the police have finally won the war.

"We have a social conscience - we cannot allow the limited resources that the police have to be wasted on policing the shop.

"They would be better served looking after the rising crime rate here in Worthing.

"Our actions in opening the two shops was to prove that there was a need for such establishments and a social meeting place that is alcohol-free and free from violence."

The spokesman pointed out that the parade of shops Buddy's was located in had been "derelict and run-down" when it first opened for business and cafe staff had done their best to tidy it up.

She said: "We are not bad people. All the profits from the venture went to the sick and disabled.

"We have made no personal profit or gain by running the koffeeshop.

"We are a politically motivated group of disabled people who are fighting for the right to consume cannabis medically and for those who prefer cannabis to the government sponsored drugs."

Chief Inspector Russ Whitfield, police commander of Worthing district, has said the suspected cannabis cafes were earning thousands of pounds every week and were devoid of any political stance.

Police are currently trying to close another cafe in Victoria Road, near Worthing railway station, using the high visibility tactics employed at Buddy's.

A number of people have been charged in relation to alleged cannabis cafes in Worthing.