A street in a town dubbed 'God's waiting room' has been named as Sussex's most violent.

The league table of crime reveals that Terminus Road, Eastbourne, has knocked West Street, Brighton, from the top spot.

Nigel Waterson, MP for Eastbourne, said: "It is appalling news for me and my constituents."

All five town centre streets in Eastbourne which are monitored by Sussex Police have recorded increases in injury-causing violent crimes, rising from 52 to 79 compared to the same quarter in 2006.

But Inspector Nick Porter, who is based in Eastbourne, said violent crime had fallen by 15 per cent in the town centre and across the police district since April.

And although West Street, Brighton, has recorded a significant fall in alcohol-fuelled violence, both St James's Street and Western Road, Brighton, have shot up the table to joint third and fourth place.

Inspector Bill Whitehead, head of licensing for Sussex Police in Brighton, believes 24-hour drinking legislation has led to bars in traditionally quiet areas of the city opening later.

Conservative MP Mr Waterson said: "The police take this issue very seriously but they are facing an unprecedented surge in violent crime on our streets.

"I suspect most of this sharp increase in violence is fuelled by longer licensing laws and cheap alcohol.

"I strongly believe this needs to be addressed by local and national Government."

Terminus Road, Eastbourne, was the scene of 57 violent crimes in the three months to June 2007 - the highest number of any streets in the county.

Inspector Porter said: "It has been widely acknowledged that a large percentage of the town centre violent crime is linked directly with alcohol and the night-time economy.

"Eastbourne police and its partners are investing heavily in the policing of this area and over the last year a number of partnership initiatives have been introduced which include door-staff wearing high-visibility jackets, the introduction of polycarbonate drinking vessels and plastic bottles in a number of larger premises, and Eastbourne Business Crime Group has recently introduced the safer Socialising Award scheme.

"In addition to this, late last month Eastbourne policing district saw its detection rate for violent crime top 65 per cent - the highest that it's ever been. This means increased justice for victims of crime.

"Every instance of someone becoming a victim of crime is regrettable. Eastbourne police, working with our partners, will strive to make Eastbourne an even safer place in which to socialise."

Bob Gough, chairman of the Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership, added: "When you compare Terminus Road and other parts of the town centre to other parts of the country it is still a safe place to be.

"However we are working as a partnership to reduce public place violence even further."

Eastbourne Hospitality Association chairwoman Heidi Cowderoy said she would like to see more police officers on the beat.

She said: "I don't think Terminus Road is the new West Street - it is a real surprise.

"It is like a ghost town along some parts and I do recommend some of the restaurants to my guests.

"I do not think there is enough police presence when the clubs are open."

Linda Fulbrook, Oxfam manager at the Terminus Road store, said violent crime was not a problem for her outlet but that shoplifting was.

She said: "We haven't any problems with violence down this end of the street but shoplifting is very high in this street - small shops are being shoplifted every day."

Just three weeks ago a paramedic was assaulted by a drunk patient he was trying to treat in Terminus Road.

In April this year, a foreign student was kicked and punched in an unprovoked attack. Arrests were made in both cases.

Police are also moving to block the opening of new pubs, clubs and bars because of fears Eastbourne will become the stag party capital of the South.

Brighton and Hove police are also pushing for the introduction of a cumulative impact zone, which puts the emphasis on new clubs and pubs to prove why they should open.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said that West Street had been targeted by police and improvements made with plastic glasses and CCTV monitoring.

St James's Street and Western Road has seen falling levels of violent crime compared to the same quarter last year although low-level violence had increased in Western Road.

She added that the picture across the city was improving.

Is Terminus Road really as violent as these statistics suggest? Tell us what you think below.

Top 20 Streets for violent crime, violent crime from March to June 2007:

1) Terminus Road, Eastbourne, 57 (up from 2)
2) West Street, Brighton, 56 (down from 1)
3) St James's Street, Brighton, 52 (up from 12)
4) Western Road, Brighton and Hove, 46 (up from 18)
5) Lewes Road, Brighton, 42 (up from 11)
6) Robertson Street, Hastings, 40 (up from 9)
7) Seaside, Eastbourne, 36 (up from 19)
8) Kings Road, Brighton, 34 (down from 5)
9) Kings Road Arches, Brighton, 33 (up from 16)
10) London Road, Brighton, 31 ( up from 17)
11) High Street, Crawley, 29 (down from 3)
12) Chapel Road, Worthing, 25 (up from 14)
13 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, 19 (down from 10)
14) The Esplanade, Bognor, 19 (down from 8)
15) Queens Road, Hastings, 18 (down from 20)
16) Langney Road, Eastbourne 17 (down from 15)
17) Madeira Drive, Brighton 15 (down from 13)
18) Grand Parade, Eastbourne 13 (down from 4)
19) Marine Parade, Worthing 13 (down from 7)
20) London Road, Crawley 9 (down from 6)