A seafront club in Brighton has been ordered to close for operating illegally.

Club Barracuda, on the Lower Esplanade, Brighton, was run as a nightclub despite only having a private members' licence.

Brighton magistrates granted an application by Sussex Police to cancel the club's registration certificate after hearing it breached regulations, selling alcohol to non-members and staying open until the early hours when it should have shut at 11pm.

Marcus Fletcher, representing the police, said the premises were originally run without problems as the Deep Sea Anglers Club, a members-only club which opened in 1900.

In 1997, the name was changed to Club Barracuda. Previous members were no longer involved and visits by the police revealed it was not being operated as a private members' club.

Inspector Mark Huff said: "The way the club was being run had absolutely nothing to do with deep sea angling."

Edward Daveron, a trustee of the club, had opposed the revocation of the registration certificate.

His solicitors applied in writing for an adjournment as Mr Daveron was suffering from ill health.

But the magistrates ruled the case, which had been delayed for five months, should go ahead in his absence.

Mr Daveron is taking legal action against the police at Brighton County Court.