Pubs throughout Sussex are applying to open until midnight for weekends during the summer and bank holidays.

Magistrates are likely to hear the applications in the next two months from publicans who want the extra hour so they can compete with clubs.

The moves come as Bar Med in Western Road, Hove, was given the go-ahead by Brighton licensing magistrates to stay open until midnight six days a week. For the moment it will open for an extra hour on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Already police in Eastbourne and Hailsham have indicated they will object to the extra opening hours.

East Downs licensing officer Gary Clark said: "It would have implications for policing in the towns."

Applications to magistrates have been submitted in each licensing district. Publicans want to be allowed an extra hour every Friday and Saturday night in June, July and August. They are also want extensions for St George's Day, St Andrew's Day, St Patrick's Day, St David's Day, election night, bank holidays and New Year's Eve.

It is likely to go unchallenged in Hastings and Rother which last year became two of the first places in Britain to grant summer-long extensions.

Licensing officer Cathy Wolfe said: "Last year we were the only licensing district apart from Skegness to allow the extensions and we found it worked. The fact the pubs were open later did not cause any more problems than we usually have."

Brighton publican Roy Skam, chairman of legal and licensing committee of the Sussex Victuallers, said: "We hope the magistrates have the guts to grant the applications."

Bev Robbins, chairman of the Sussex Victuallers and landlord of the Hand-In-Hand pub in Brighton, Kemp Town, said: "The police are in favour of staggered closing times and these applications will allow pubs to have this."