Sussex police officers struggling to get a first foot on the property ladder have been dealt a hammer blow by the Government.

The Home Office has decided the county should not qualify for a special £10 million funding pot to help officers cope with spiralling house prices.

The cash will be shared by Surrey, Thames Valley and Hertfordshire.

The Home Office has been locked in talks with ten South-East police forces covering property hot spots. Officials have been studying transfer rates and found Sussex had lost 15 more officers than had moved to the county.

This gave a net transfer rate of minus 0.5 per cent, compared to minus 4.1 per cent in Surrey, minus 3.1 per cent in Thames Valley and minus 2.5 per cent in Hertfordshire.

Police Minister John Denham said, as a result, Sussex would miss out.

"We have worked closely with forces in the South-East to help find a solution to the difficulties they face in recruiting and retaining officers.

"This significant additional cash for the forces with the most severe problems will support existing allowances for South-East forces by helping officers faced by high housing costs.

"While police salaries are determined nationally, house prices are not and I am aware it is easier to buy houses in some parts of the country than others."