A lapdancing club has won its battle to stay open late in a bid to attract more customers.

Pussycats in Church Road, Hove, can now stay open until 1am - on condition that customers don't touch the dancers and that the women wear g-strings when performing.

Club bosses are celebrating a year-long battle which ended when Brighton and Hove licensing magistrates and council planners agreed that the club could stay open later.

Brighton and Hove Council has issued a public entertainment licence to the club allowing it to open from 5pm to 1am on Mondays to Saturdays.

Brighton and Hove licensing magistrates have also issued a matching liquor licence to the club.

Director Kenneth McGrath said: "The Pussycat Club is delighted that we have received a public entertainment licence. It is specific to an agreed form of striptease, accurately described as topless tableside and stage dancing.

"This is the culmination of over a year of negotiations with local planning officers, environmental health, the fire service, the police and the community.

"The club collected a petition of support for late opening from 1,437 people. Only two objections were received."

Conditions imposed on the club include that dancers should at all times wear a g-string or similar piece of clothing on the appropriate part of the body.

There should also be no physical contact between customers and dancers except when notes are placed in a garter worn by dancers for that purpose.

Directors say the licence will mean they can now market the club across Britain, turning it into a tourist attraction.

And they believe that the change will result in more visitors coming to Brighton and Hove and spending their money here.

Mr McGrath said: "We believe that our activities, which we describe as naughty dance and stage cabaret, are entirely appropriate in Brighton and Hove.

"They will further stimulate and encourage tourism in our thriving tourist-based economy."