A lap-dancing club has won its battle to stay open late and nearby residents do not seem to mind.

Pussycats in Church Road, Hove, can open until 2am on condition customers do not touch the dancers and the women wear G-strings while performing.

When the club opened five years ago it faced protests from residents and the church who objected on moral grounds.

This time a bid to extend its opening from 1am to 2am met with no opposition, much to the delight of club bosses.

Managing director Kenneth McGrath said: "We have traded in our community happily for five years and have become a recognised tourist attraction with more than 10,000 tourist visitors to the club annually.

"We have always wanted to open even later because our customers want it. I don't particularly want to have to stay up until 3am but our customers arrive late - it's in the nature of our business. We are delighted we are now a proper nightclub.

"It was a bit of a battle to get open in the first place but we have played it by the book.

The club gained planning consent for the 2am extension in December and was granted a 2am public entertainments licence by Brighton and Hove City Council in July.

On Tuesday, licensing magistrates granted them a matching liquor licence and the new opening hours will now operate from next Friday.

Councillor Frieda Warman-Brown has received no complaints from residents in the five years since the club opened.

She said: "It's discreet and fairly quiet in operating and there is no doubt none of the local trades people object.

"When it opened the objections were on moral grounds but I suppose an extension in opening hours will make little difference to that."