One of Kent's biggest venues has been given the green light to host 40 outdoor gigs a year - each attracting crowds of almost 20,000 people.

Bosses from Dreamland Margate had launched a bid to more than double the number of open-air concerts it holds - with owners claiming the site "will not continue to be successful" without the increase.

The historic amusement park has seen stars like Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller and Tom Grennan take to the stage recent years - and Tom Jones, Human League and Primal Scream are lined up for performances in the summer.

But residents living in nearby high-rise block Arlington House have railed against the recent proposal, amid fears it would "cripple their quality of life".

Lyndon Brand, who lives in the 142-flat building, says his windows currently "rattle" during the events.

The retired 57-year-old said: "It's absolutely sickening - it will cripple my quality of life, even more than already.

“The sound travels, through our walls and ceilings, and straight across the car park.

“The windows in these places aren’t double glazed, they’re single-pane, 1960s fashion, so they rattle the casements. It’s terrible.

“It's not even really so much the revellers that cause a problem - it’s the actual event itself."

A Better Arlington co-chair Jess Search - whose group represents residents living in the block - also noted "the majority of us are very supportive of Dreamland as a business, but we just want them to meet us halfway".

She stated in letters sent to Thanet District Council that "many of our members have been increasingly concerned about the duration and volume of events" at the venue in recent years.

Papers lodged with the local authority by Sands Heritage Ltd, the firm running the seaside attraction, show it wanted to host indoor events until 4am, rather than the current 2.30am end time.

The documents also reveal it was hoping to be able to hold up to 48 outdoor music events a year, during which it would close roads to help disperse crowds. This was instead of the 20 allowed under its most recent licence.

And at a meeting of the district council's licensing sub-committee on Tuesday Sarah Clover, a barrister acting on behalf of Dreamland, said the site is "indispensable to Margate".

“It will not thrive, and it will not continue to be successful without what the current application proposes,” she argued.

Dreamland chief executive Eddie Kemsley added: "We've been here for 103 years - the site's always been synonymous with Margate.

"Never more than now has the town needed a venue offering a variety of entertainment.

"Now is the time for Dreamland to thrive."

The council's environmental health department initially objected to the application, saying the existing licence is "already at the limit of acceptability".

Police officials also wrote prior to the meeting “to grant this application as requested would have detrimental effects on the residents and would have a serious impact on the local community and transport infrastructure”.

They said that the ejection of crowds from Dreamland at 4am - when no public transport is available - would risk disorder. The force subsequently asked for the closing hour to be kept to 2.30am.

Despite this, the venue's request was green-lit by the committee.

However, Dreamland was instead given permission to hold 40 large outdoor concerts every 12 months.

It will also be allowed to host indoor ending at 4am only eight times per year - all other indoor events will end at 2am.

Speaking after the decision was issued, Ms Kemsley said: "I’m very grateful to the council and all the other organisations involved for their consideration and approval of our application.

"We’re very much looking forward to expanding our programme of live events and welcoming more artists and customers to Dreamland and Margate."