A supermarket has been granted a licence to sell alcohol from 6am seven days a week.

Tesco has confirmed it hopes to open an Express store in West Way in Hangleton, Hove, early next year, adding it will bring about 20 jobs to the area.

Despite opposition from some existing traders and locals, the multi-national retailer has been granted permission by Brighton and Hove City Council to sell alcohol from 6am to 11pm every day.

Licensing panel chairman Lizzie Deane, on granting permission, urged Tesco to be true to its word about being a good neighbour.

But speaking after the meeting, ward councillor Dawn Barnett said: “It’s ludicrous – who wants to be drinking at 6am?

“We have eight places already where you can buy alcohol.

“I think Tesco is a responsible retailer but we did not need another retailer up there.”

Sussex Police imposed a number of conditions on the licence when it was discussed at Brighton Town Hall.

This includes a ban on the sale of beer or cider with an ABV of greater than 6% and the installation of The Tesco Express site used to be discount bed centre Hamseys and prior to that was a late night Co-op.

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