Police chiefs have been rapped for their decision to spend thousands of pounds of tax payers money on Indian head massages.

Sussex Police have invited tenders for a contract of up to £10,000 to provide head rubs for its stressedout call centre staff.

The contract was put out to tender on Monday and masseurs and masseuses have until January 9 to bid for the lucrative deal.

The provision of onsite Indian head massage services to specific departments within Sussex Police would see the therapists based at call handling centres in Lewes, Brighton and Haywards Heath.

Last night, the authority was slammed for planning to spend thousands of pounds on alternative healing remedies while the force is 250 officers short.

Nick Herbert, the Shadow Justice Minister and Conservative MP for Arundel and South Downs, said: "This beggars belief. I cannot believe that public money is being spent on offering Indian head massages to police or police staff.

"At a time when the authority is telling us how strapped for cash they are, you have to question whether this is a responsible use of public money." Sussex Police is currently 250 officers lower than the average county force.

Chief Constable Martin Richards defended the decision.

He said: "This is nothing new in organisations where staffare employed in call handling work.

"We recognise that our hardworking staff can be sitting in set positions at their desks for long periods, taking calls and dealing with a variety of challenging issues.

"This service is a way of relieving the pressure."

Is Sussex Police right to spend the money on Indian head massages for staff? Tell us what you think below.

The Argus was tipped off by internet blogger Iain Dale, whose work can be found at iaindale.blogspot.com.