The Mayor of Worthing has backed controversial plans for the town's first "wet shelter", where street drunks and drug addicts can stay overnight.

The plans have worried some, who believe it turn the town into a magnet for trouble.

But Mayor James Doyle said such concerns were alarmist and the priority should be to help vulnerable addicts already in Worthing.

Worthing Churches Homeless Projects (WCHP), heading the scheme, is still looking for a site to open the hostel and plans have not yet been submitted to the borough council.

Councillor Doyle said: "We already a have problem in Worthing - there are vulnerable people with substance problems. What we need to do is support those people and do what we can to get them back on their feet.

"It's alarmist to say it would attract people to the town. We are talking about people who are very, very vulnerable. I do not believe they will travel because there is a recovery project.

"What WCHP is trying to do is help people who are here already.

"The priority has to be how do we treat and help the people who need help the most. My concern is helping people in Worthing as much as possible - we will deal with anything that arises when it arises.

"We have to be realistic. It seems to me people who are most worried about the recovery project are the ones most vociferous about doing stuff for the people already here. We cannot just push them out of the town centre or turn away and hope the problem goes away."

Agreeing where the hostel opens would be a sensitive issue, he said: "The siting will be crucial and I'm sure the homeless project will work closely with council officers to make sure we find the best possible site for the general population of Worthing and those who need the facility."

Stressing how the proposed shelter would offer structured support, WCHP general manager Tony Chasteauneuf said: "There are hundreds of households in Worthing living next door to someone who is addicted to alcohol or drugs, whose residence has given cause for concern and possibly disruption to their lives.

"We are talking about opening a closely-managed, fully-staffed project. In terms of someone using drugs chaotically next door, I would rather them have the opportunity of access to a project that can help."

But borough council leisure executive Maurice Tucker said: "The WHCP has a building in Marine Place, we've got the Salvation Army, a youth drop-in centre - we have places already. As far as I'm concerned we have most things we need."