A pub's bid to stage music, dancing and karaoke on Saturday nights has sparked anger among neighbours.

Protesters claim they are already plagued by loud music, vandalism to cars and disturbance in the vicinity of the Southdown Hotel, in Northcourt Road, Worthing.

Now landlady Dawn Troncone has applied to Worthing Borough Council for a public entertainments licence.

The police and council noise pollution experts have not objected to the application, which would apply from 8pm to 11pm.

People living nearby are dismayed, saying their lives have been affected by fighting involving drunken youths outside the back-street pub.

One protester wrote: "During the summer months windows have to be kept shut during the evenings as the noise level from the Southdown is so loud.

"It also spoils sitting out in the garden when all we can hear is the blaring sound of music and loud voices.

"On numerous occasions there have been dreadful fights, and also a stabbing outside the Southdown. As a family, having such behaviour outside your home is quite intolerable."

Another wrote: "In recent months the customer base has undergone a radical change and many of the regulars have been forced to drink elsewhere. We have recently suffered a spate of vandalism to our vehicles and my own car has been violently kicked and dented. I have had to call the police in the early hours following disturbances."

There was also concern the licence would be for 150 people, yet the hotel had no off-street parking, which is already seen as a problem because nearby King Street is used as a rat run.

Mrs Troncone said she would keep the volume of music at an appropriate level.