A Sussex town has the highest number of unmarried parents in the South, figures revealed today.

More than half of all children in Hastings were born outside wedlock in 1999, statistics from the Office for National Statistics showed.

The report showed 51.5 per cent of children in the resort were born illegitimately that year, compared with a UK average of 38.8 per cent.

The rate in Eastbourne was 45.4 per cent while Rother had 36.1 per cent and Wealden 28.2 per cent.

The Hollington ward of the Hastings has one of the highest proportions of children born out of wedlock.

Ward councillor and mayor Jackie Dowling said: "The figures are bad but there are projects in line to try to address the problem.

"It has been known for some time that Hollington, and Hastings overall, has high rates, but there appears to be no decline, which is worrying."