Traders and residents blame a string of vandal attacks in a town centre on kebab shops breaching planning rules.

They say they have been pushed to breaking point and are willing to take legal action against the council for not ensuring the shops in Worthing town centre close by midnight.

Shop windows were kicked in by vandals and the traders say recent proposals for late-night superpubs would only add to the trouble.

The Spa shop in South Farm Road, had its window smashed at the weekend. Owner David McPeak, 49, said: "Young men who have been drinking to excess are flooding into this town because they know the kebab shops are open until 2am or 3am.

"They come from as far as Littlehampton and once they get here they go on the rampage."

He blamed the council for not enforcing planning regulations, thus allowing at least four shops to stay open late.

Mr McPeak said: "The shops are breaching the law but nothing is being done.

"Several traders, including myself, are considering legal action against the council. It is us who count the cost."

Head of planning Mike Bleakley said: "We served breach of condition notices on four kebab shops in Worthing town centre a few months ago.

"We have monitored the opening times of the shops, as recently as last Friday, and they have continued to open until 2 or 3am. By law they should only open until midnight.

"We have instructed our solicitors to issue summonses and we are waiting for a hearing date from the magistrates.

"A number of the shops have been prosecuted before, so we will be pressing for heavier fines. If they ignore this we will take out injunctions and may shut them down or seize equipment. We must use the most powerful tools we have."