A group of objectors crowded into a court to hear a pub chain's application for a drinks licence for premises in central Worthing.

In September, Bar Med dropped plans to open a superpub in the former Landmark furniture store in Chapel Road, but yesterday the owners of the Barracuda chain applied to run the bar instead.

More than 20 local residents went to Worthing Magistrates Court in the latest instalment in a battle to stop Worthing becoming what they claim is the South Coast's answer to Ibiza.

Barracuda founders Kieran Phelan and Stephen Price said they want to attract a slightly older crowd than the other pubs in Chapel Road and hope to tempt them with a traditional interior and varied food menu.

However, residents and Sussex Police fear the opening of a bar would encourage rowdy behaviour outside at closing time.

Shaun Esprit, speaking on behalf of the police, said: "The police consider Chapel Road as being a spot where there is a high incidence of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

"Outside the pub there is very little that you can do. With certain pubs close together there may be a mixing of people outside. Police are concerned about disorder from inebriated revellers."

Mr Phelan, who founded Barracuda with three colleagues two years ago and now owns 130 pubs, said the premises in Chapel Road would hold 500 people, with a 220 seating capacity.

He said: "In the evenings on a weekend there will be younger people but in our experience, in similar circumstances, the group tends to be a little bit older because of the design features in our pubs.

"We do not have large open spaces for mass congregation and our music is less intense than our competitors.

"The age group in our pubs is, on average, from 18 to 40."

He stressed there would be no loud pumping music and door security staff would co-operate with police and local pub watch schemes.

Robert Smith, spokesman for Central Worthing Residents' Association, said: "I think there are more than enough premises of this sort to satisfy the needs of the local community.

"In fact, there are probably too many already in Chapel Road."

No decision has yet been made. The case continues.