I can still remember the days when night clubs were places where you could go for an evening of sophisticated entertainment.

There was a strict dress code and women, especially, loved dressing up for a night out.

Everyone was very well behaved and there was never a threat to one's personal safety.

Modern night clubs, on the other hand, are something else entirely.

Judging from what we see on television, most of those present appear to have spent several nights sleeping rough and look as if they are high on either drink or drugs.

Almost every day we read of fights or stabbings carried out either on the premises or just outside.

Residents living nearby are subjected to frequent acts of vandalism.

So what do councils throughout Sussex do to combat the problem? That's right - they give the go-ahead for more and more of these establishments to open or allow pubs to stay open until the early hours of the morning.

As Victor Meldrew would say, "I don't believe it."

-Charles Collins, Denton Drive, Brighton