Licensees have called for a new radio link to help combat trouble from late night revellers in Worthing.

They hope it could help them keep track of troublemakers and want Pubwatch and Clubwatch schemes to be strengthened.

The schemes allow one pub or club to pass on details of troublemakers to neighbouring licensees, so that if someone is thrown out of one place they cannot then get into another.

The option of creating a central radio transmitter linking all pubs and clubs in the town centre with the police was proposed at a meeting between venue managers and Worthing Borough Council.

At the moment, different pubs use different systems which are not all compatible.

Councillor George Stephens, chairman of the licensing and control committee, said: "A central radio transmitter is an option we must seriously consider."

He said there were 32 licensed premises in Worthing town centre and he would like to make sure all belonged to Pubwatch or Clubwatch.

Mr Stephens said: "This is the first time the council has met with licensees to have a positive discussion about the situation.

"Clearly something is going wrong and we need to address this. The council, licensees, police and transport providers must all look closely at public entertainment in the town."

Environmental services chief Haydn Smith said: "We have a radio system but they are not all compatible.

"Investment would be needed, which may cost thousands of pounds, but a common frequency would help the effective flow of information between clubs and pubs."

Another concern raised at the meeting on Friday was about late night transport in the town centre.

The council plans to hold discussions with taxi companies and bus operators aimed at making it easier for people to get home after a night out.

Residents and traders in the town stepped up their fight against late night trouble-makers after recent vandal attacks and disturbances.

Many have united in recent months to fight a run of applications for late-night extensions to bar opening hours.