A church hall has been given an entertainment licence despite residents' fears regarding noise.

The Ascension Church Hall in Vale Road, Haywards Heath, has been given a licence allowing it to hold parties, discos and other events until 10pm most nights.

Residents opposed the decision by Mid Sussex District Council licensing committee because they feared it would bring trouble.

However, the Reverend Tim Stead said the licence was only intended to cover an existing event and not prompt more.

He said: "People have assumed all sorts of things just because we have applied.

"They thought our plans were to extend our public entertainment and that we had plans to get a liquor licence."

Mr Stead admitted there had been concerns about noise in the past. He said: "The problem which remains is nothing to do with the licence. I have had a number of conversations about how to stop noise but it appears we haven't resolved it.

"After the meeting I talked to the residents and we agreed to discuss it properly."

Several houses back on to the hall and owners feared they would bear the brunt of noise and anti-social behaviour.

One resident, who preferred not to be named, said: "People don't want to have lots of discos and parties carrying on there. The building is not meant for that. Sometimes they let it out for teenagers' parties and they get a bit over excited.

"It is finished by 11pm but it is afterwards when they are just hanging around."

Councillors agreed to give the hall an entertainment licence from 8am to 10pm Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 11pm Friday and Saturday and from noon to 10pm on a Sunday.

Fifteen letters objecting to the licence were received.