Cafe owners and restaurants are hiking up prices in a bid to stay afloat during the foot and mouth crisis.

Dean Grant, who runs the Centre Ville cafe, in Church Road, Hove, has put up food prices by 30p.

He says the increases were forced on him after suppliers raised their prices.

He has put a note in the cafe's window apologising and promising prices will fall again as soon as the crisis is over.

Mr Grant, who took over the business two months ago, said: "Very few customers have mentioned it. I have explained to those that have the reasons and they seemed to accept it.

"The price of bacon went up overnight from £1.20 per lb to £1.88. The cost of chicken and fish has gone up at the suppliers also.

"As far as I know, chicken and fish don't get foot and mouth, so why have the prices gone up?"

Keith Bryden, chairman of Hove Business Association, said: "I think a 30p increase is quite reasonable in the circumstances.

"We have had no complaints about restaurants putting up their prices as a result of the foot and mouth crisis.

"I think the public should do everything they can to support small businesses which find themselves under pressure in times like this."

The price rise is mirrored at cafes elsewhere in Brighton and Hove.

The owner of the Cosy Cafe, in Goldstone Villas, Hove, said: "Everybody is putting up prices. You have got to with the price of bacon and meat rising."

At Mac's Cafe in Arundel Road, Brighton, the rise in price of bacon has forced a rise for any dish containing the meat.