A senior police officer has pledged his support for Worthing Council in its fight to stop a new pub staying open until midnight.

Worthing Borough Council has put by a £40,000 fighting fund to oppose the plans by pub giant Bar Med, which wants to open a bar in the former Landmark furniture store in Chapel Road.

Worthing magistrates have overturned a council bid to block the application, despite a strong campaign by residents.

The council has now decided to appeal against the magistrates' decision, at an estimated cost of £10,000 to £15,000.

Inspector Allan Lowe, Worthing Sector Commander, said: "Chapel Road is a hot spot for violent crime at the moment and the town centre is at saturation point as far as licensed premises go.

"If Bar Med was allowed to open until midnight every night of the week, it would have a serious impact on violence in the town. We just wouldn't have the resources to police the area."

He said staggered closing times were a good idea but said they were not possible in Worthing.

He said: "We would not be able to cope with the extra resources needed.

"There is also such intense competition in such a small area everyone would want to be able to close later."

Bar Med expressed shock at the council's decision to appeal.

Julian Lavey, the company's director of licensing, said: "Staggered closing times improve crowd dispersal and mean there are less problems getting taxis.

"There is no way one bar opening later would increase crime and just because we were allowed to open late would not mean all others in the town could.

"We are a quality establishment which offers something for the over-25 age group.

"When we won the last appeal, as a gesture of goodwill we did not go for costs of about £15,000 to £20,000. But now we will not be as generous."

The hearing will be held in the next 16 weeks.