A pub where serious violence broke out on two consecutive weekends has been ordered to close indefinitely.

Magistrates yesterday decided The Toby in Cowley Drove, Woodingdean, must remain closed until Brighton and Hove City Council reviews its licence in four weeks' time.

The council could decide to remove the licence following a fortnight of disturbances at the pub.

The first fight took place after the England football team was knocked out of the World Cup on Saturday, July 1.

Police were called in at 10pm when two young men who had been refused alcohol picked up beer glasses and took them outside. Landlady Karen Overton followed them and asked for the glasses back but the men were joined by a gang which started smashing windows.

The following Friday a group of men armed with baseball bats smashed up furniture and attacked customers at the pub.

Police used emergency powers to close the premises that night.

David Bateup, police licensing officer for Brighton and Hove, said: "The last few weekends must have been very frightening for the local community. The closure order will allow a much needed breathing space."

Inspector William Whitehead, in charge of police licensing, said: "The closure reinforces the message that irresponsibly run premises will be closed down. We will not tolerate such behaviour associated with licensed premises in Brighton and Hove.

"The court has today sent out a clear message that the designated premises supervisor should be in charge of the premises, being the frontline person effectively controlling its management, and not some distant area manager."

Mrs Overton said: "I think the decision to close us for up to four weeks is very harsh. This is my home and my livelihood.

"They were two isolated and unconnected incidents which were not of our making.

"In the first one we had not even served them alcohol because we thought they were drunk and the second one we were very unlucky. I've been here four months and we've had no trouble. It's a friendly and quiet pub.

"I've run pubs for four years and never had a blip and now I am being accused of bad management. I personally think the police want this place closed down for good because I understand there is a history of trouble here.

"I am willing to do all that's required of me in terms of putting in CCTV, shatter-proof glasses and other measures but I am not confident the council will allow us to stay open."