Teacher numbers in Sussex have increased despite fears that spiralling property prices could lead to a recruitment crisis.

National statistics published yesterday reveal 5,770 teachers were in posts in West Sussex at the end of January, 160 more than at the same point last year.

In East Sussex, numbers were up from 3,610 to 3,620 and in Brighton and Hove the number increased from 1,730 to 1,800.

The news was tempered by a slight increase in the vacancy rate for teachers in Brighton and Hove.

The city council has 21 posts waiting to be filled compared with 17 last year, which represents a vacancy rate of 1.4 per cent, up from 1.1 The figure, which comes despite the appointment of 80 extra teachers, is a result of the Government creating new teaching posts to cut class sizes and reduce teachers' workloads.

The vacancy rate in West Sussex was cut from 1.6 per cent to 1 per cent, with 49 posts now waiting to be filled.

In East Sussex the vacancy rate dropped by 0.3 per cent to 1.1 per cent, or 34 posts.

It had been feared huge increases in property prices in Sussex could have led to a fall in teacher numbers, with some moving out of the county to areas where houses are cheaper.

Across England, there are now 419,600 full-time teachers in maintained schools, an increase of 9,400 since January 2001.

It is the biggest single-year increase since at least 1979 and the highest total since 1982.

The national vacancy rate is down from 1.4 per cent in 2001 to 1.2 per cent in 2002.

Schools minister David Miliband said: "This is welcome news but we are not taking our eyes off the ball.

"Without good teachers, we will not transform our education system.

"Finding and keeping good teachers remains a problem in certain areas but we have made great gains since 1997."