A Worthing pub has won an appeal to stay open until midnight despite a huge campaign by residents.

Opponents feared the £1 million plans by pub giant Bar Med would open the floodgates for other applications, turning their seaside town into the South Coast's answer to Ibiza.

But magistrates overturned a council bid to block the application.

The chain will be free to open a bar in the former Landmark furniture store in Chapel Road until midnight every night of the week.

The late licence is a first for the town and the council believes it may open the way for others.

Don MacQuarrie, 59, of Wenban Road, was one of dozens of residents who fought the licence application.

He said: "I think the residents will be deeply disappointed by the verdict. We were hoping the magistrates would have come to our defence.

"We have been under attack for some time from the mushrooming of superpubs.

"We created an alliance between residents, police and the council who all wanted to stop Bar Med in its tracks and now our views have been trampled on."

He said he was determined to fight on and would oppose Bar Med's application for a liquor licence later this year.

Council licensing committee chairman George Stephens said: "I am absolutely devastated by the decision reached by the court yesterday. I am waiting to receive in writing the reasons for the decision."

He added: "At this time it is not possible to confirm what action will be taken but an appeal cannot be ruled out."

Council environmental health manager David Bowen said: "We would predict applications for late licence from other premises."