Fast food restaurant managers say they are being forced to shut early because of licensing restrictions.

They felt so strongly about the issue they took out an advert in The Argus.

Shan Trading Ltd, which has the franchise for the Burger King outlets in Madeira Drive and North Street in Brighton, placed an advert asking: "Are we being singled out?"

The firm said a decision to refuse an application to extend its licences until 3am because of late night problems in the city meant it would have to close its outlets by 11pm to remain viable.

Managing director George Bastone said: "For a considerable time the restaurant in North Street was open until 3am.

"When we opened the one in Madeira Drive two years ago we wanted that to open until 3am. But we were not allowed to open past midnight.

"Because of the problems in Brighton at night, which I agree are bad, the council stopped giving licences until 3am because it did not want people congregating after the pubs and clubs had closed. We could only open in North Street until 1am and had to take on security staff.

"For a year we have been trading until 1am and we applied again to have the licence extended. Again it was refused.

"Complying with the licensing requirements has been so expensive. Staying open until 3am would be viable but 1am is not.

"The advert was to tell customers we are no longer going to stay open late, plus a little dig at why we are not being allowed."

Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis said: "Burger King lost its late licence because of the high number of incidents happening at its restaurants.

"Advice and support was given over a period of time and there was no change.

"We presented evidence of the level of disorder, which was directly caused by Burger King opening late, to the licensing magistrates and they took the decision to revoke its late licence."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Burger King's advertisement is not only misleading, it is also inaccurate.

"There have been long-running problems at the premises in North Street.

"The council's environmental health and licensing team have received many complaints about disturbances and the police have told us they are concerned about the high level of violence in and around the premises.

"The environment committee decided to restrict operating hours to 1.15am last May, to be reviewed every three months."

Monday May 12 2003