Sussex taxpayers are facing a whopping 18 per cent tax rise to pay for extra bobbies.

Sussex Police Authority wants to increase its budget to £190 million and meets next Monday in Chichester for a final decision.

The rise means an extra 21p a week for the average household and authority members say it is due to government grant cutbacks.

Chairman David Rogers said: "The authority will receive an increase in government grants for its core funding of only 2.6 per cent."

A standstill budget would add 8p a week to tax bills but most members favour the 18 per cent increase which will provide 50 extra officers by March 2003.