Sussex Police are turning to Tube station signs to stop a "brain drain" of officers leaving for better-paid jobs in London.

Posters have gone up on walls in every police station in the county and the force is using famous station names to get its message across.

The posters point out the pitfalls of commuting to the capital, the time spent travelling and the cost of moving.

The messages include: Waterloo - Start every day with a battle just to get to work, Bank - You'll soon be making some hefty withdrawals and Angel - Spend less time with yours.

Two years ago entire departments were hit by officers switching forces. The prospect of earning £6,000 more plus free travel nearly emptied Brighton CID of detectives and the firearms unit at Gatwick.

The drain has slowed but it remains a problem. Chris Oswick, head of Sussex Police press and public relations, said from April last year to January 31 there were 34 officers who left Sussex. More than half went to the Metropolitan Police.

During the same period some 26 officers transferred to Sussex, seven of them from the Metropolitan force.

But the problem is not just one of numbers. Every Sussex officer who leaves takes with them a wealth of local knowledge, contacts and experience. Each new officer who arrives from outside the county has to spend time getting to know their areas and local people.

Mr Oswick said: "The problem has diminished but the force is not complacent. We are appointing a recruitment and retention officer who can help show would-be leavers why it is better to stay in Sussex."

In the past five years 57 officers from the Met have transferred to Sussex. Many were people returning to the county having originally transferred to London.

Sussex, with more than 3,100 officers, is currently at full strength and the force is warning would-be leavers there may not be room for them if they later wanted to return.

Jo Hird, of the Sussex Police human resources department, said: "Only a couple of weeks ago we interviewed an officer who left last April and wanted to transfer back.

"His reason was that the Met did not live up to expectations."

Ms Hird said quality of life and support from the public in Sussex were other factors would-be leavers should consider.