A Sussex venue has won the right to hold eight major social events a year.

Hickstead Showjumping Ground will be holding seven Christmas parties in December, instead of four.

Councillors decided to approve the extra events despite concerns over noise and disturbance to nearby residents.

The organisers had originally applied to increase the number of parties to 12 but Mid Sussex District Council planners reduced the number to eight, seven in December and one in the summer.

Councillor Peter Martin said: "It was a bit of a compromise and not everyone was happy.

"You are never not going to hear it but I think it will be less disturbing.

"I think it would have been unreasonable to completely refuse it but it would have been equally unreasonable to have allowed 12."

The organisers wanted the parties to go on to 2am but councillors decided on 1am.

Marquees with soundproofing will be put up away from houses near the grandstand.