The old Dixon of Dock Green blue lamps are to be reinstated outside all Sussex police stations.

The lamps went out of fashion years ago but are being brought back to herald longer opening hours.

Stations were closed and opening hours shortened under former chief constable Paul Whitehouse but new chief Ken Jones believes it led to a rise in the fear of crime.

He is determined people see police stations as being at the heart of their communities.

A force spokesman said: "Putting the old blue lamps outside will reassure people that we are here to help."

During the coming year, blue lamps will be installed across the county and front offices will be made more welcoming.

It follows a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary that said: "The police station, with its traditional blue lamp, is a resonant image of British policing with almost as much symbolic importance as the uniformed bobby."

For the new opening hours, which come into force next week, a new system of police station categories has been introduced:

Category A (Brighton): 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Category B (Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings, Worthing): 8am to midnight, seven days a week.

Category C (Arundel, Battle, Bexhill, Bognor, Burgess Hill**, Chichester, Crowborough, East Grinstead**, Hailsham, Haywards Heath**, Horsham*, Hove*, Lancing, Lewes, Littlehampton, Midhurst, Newhaven, Petworth, Rye, Seaford, Selsey, Shoreham, Steyning, Uckfield):

*8am to 8pm, Monday-Friday, **8.30am to 8pm Monday to Friday, otherwise 10am to 8pm (Monday to Friday), 10am- 6pm (Saturday). Closed Sunday.

Category D: Opening hours for Hastings town centre police office, Horsham district community access office and Peacehaven police station reception area are decided through local need and published to local communities.

For example, Peacehaven will be open from 4pm to 8pm from Tuesday to Friday, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday.

The new hours will be in place on Friday, with many police stations introducing the new times on Monday.