Sussex's top policeman is pleading with his officers not to leave the force in a personal email reading: "Sussex needs you."

Chief Constable Ken Jones has written to each of the force's 3,000 officers asking them to talk to him personally before going elsewhere.

Some officers are being lured away from the county by the promise of an extra £5,000 a year over the boundaries at the Metropolitan Police.

The appeal has now become personal.

In an email sent to all officers, Mr Jones said: "I and the people of Sussex need you here."

He said it was wrong to believe Sussex was losing police faster than they were joining.

He said: "Fewer are leaving than last year and I am pleased the number of officers had increased by 54 since April."

Mr Jones said the "mythology" around the appeal of the Met was both inaccurate and damaging.

"This is, thanks to your efforts, a great organisation and I am proud to work with you."

He said: "If anyone is really tempted to leave then at least give me the opportunity to speak to you before you decide. I and the people of Sussex need you here."

Mr Jones wants to impress upon the waverers the disadvantages of daily train journeys and the advantages of working locally.

The salary disparity arose last year when the Government allowed the Met to pay its officers £5,000 more because of spiralling costs of living.

Sussex officers were only awarded an extra £1,000 even though costs in parts of the county match those in London.

Inspector Graham Alexander, of the Sussex branch of the Police Federation, said the Met was trying to poach officers from neighbouring forces.

He said: "There are stories going round that transfers were being arranged over the telephone."

Mr Alexander said the "ridiculous" situation was the result of "ludicrous" regional differences in pay and allowances.

The £1,000 for Sussex officers was a "nonsense" considering the high cost of living in the county, he said.

The branch was now trying to negotiate for travel concessions for officers working in Sussex.

Meanwhile, the force is fighting back to entice Met officers to join Sussex.

It is about to launch a recruitment drive using posters at railway stations around the county.

The ads will target commuters fed up with long journeys to and from London.

Sussex Police said it was managing to hire suitable new trainees but another way of reaching the target of 3,100 police was to hire serving officers from elsewhere.

A spokesman said: "We don't see it as poaching but there is certainly increased competition between forces and we are determined to hold our own."