People will be paying more for policing in Sussex for the second year running.

The Sussex Police Authority, the watchdog body that sets force budgets, is warning of a big increase in their council tax demand.

It will need another five per cent, or 21p per week, from the average Band D householder just to stand still.

If the force is allowed to continue hiring more bobbies, it will need a 35p rise, or £18 a year.

Last year, Band D residents forked out an extra 40 per cent or 54p per week, bringing their overall contribution to almost £100 a year.

The authority is once again blaming the Government, which is giving more money to forces in the North and in metropolitan areas than to those in the South.

The authority is bracing itself for another meagre handout when the Government announces its grant for forces later this month.

It is expected the average national police grant will increase by just 2.5 per cent yet Sussex needs almost five per cent just to maintain services.

A police authority spokesman said: "If we do not get enough grant, it will be local taxpayers who will be asked to make up the shortfall."