Residents have backed plans to close a network of alleyways on two council estates which are seen as a magnet for hooligans and vandals.

Adur District Council consulted residents on the Mash Barn estate in Lancing and the Hamble Road area of Sompting after hearing from people living there that the alleys were no longer public rights of way.

The requests have arisen as a result of the amount of anti-social behaviour said to take place in the alleys.

Residents have reported that groups of youngsters regularly congregate and throw objects into gardens, damage fences and generally cause a disturbance.

Some 62 per cent of residents in Hamble Road and 73 per cent in Mash Barn supported the closures in the consultation, the results of which were made public on Monday.

Members of the council's community services committee are expected to decide on Tuesday to ask the county council to apply to the Government to close the alleys.

Residents would then be consulted again to find out which method of closure they preferred. The project is likely to cost £6,500.