A landlady has called time on plans to introduce late drinking at a Mid Sussex pub after residents complained their car park had been turned into an open-air toilet.

Maggie Wooldridge applied to extend opening times at the The Burrell Arms in Commercial Square, Haywards Heath, until 1am on from Thursday to Saturday.

The application, which would have put the pub on the map as the first after-hours venue in the town, was due to be heard by Mid Sussex District Council's Licensing Committee last night but was withdrawn after opposition from residents and the police.

People living at Palmerston House in nearby Queens Road had objected to the plan, claiming the late licence would lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour in the town.

In a letter to the district council, members of the Palmerston House Residents' Association stated: "We are sick of our car park being used as a toilet and rubbish dump and this all seems to take place when the pub shuts."

The letter went on to complain about the noise from the pub.

Sussex Police also objected to the application, dated March 13.

In a letter to the district council, licensing officer Mike Caulkett said the police had concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Mrs Wooldridge said the decision to withdraw the application was mostly due to the change of area manager, expected at the end of the week.