A bid to allow Brighton and Hove pubs to stay open until 2am has been adjourned.

Pub landlords want to be allowed to stay open for longer during the summer.

They were today due to ask Brighton and Hove Licensing Committee to extend their opening hours at weekends from June until August.

Sussex Licensed Victuallers Association has brought a test case on behalf of its members in the city.

They claim landlords need the extensions to compete against nightclubs and argue that other places already allow pubs to stay open until the early hours in summer.

Hastings and Bexhill licensing magistrates allowed pubs there to open late last year and will do so again this year.

But police and licensing officials object to similar plans for Brighton and Hove.

They say the city is a much larger place to police than towns like Scarborough, which also allows later hours.

Senior police officers say people will be attracted to Brighton and Hove from London and other areas, increasing the potential for trouble.

Brighton and Hove Licensing committee chairman Ken Hopkins adjourned the hearing until March 22.