Brighton and Hove's booming economy is producing problems for thousands of people in the city who are not well off.

As the cost of living soars, particularly with rising house prices, they are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet.

The result is recruitment difficulties for staff as varied as bus drivers and teachers. Some of the worst problems are to be found in hospitals.

A new bonus scheme introduced by the Government recognised the problems in West Sussex by allowing nurses bonuses of up to £600.

But nurses in East Sussex, including Brighton and Hove, have not been included. Some of them are now moving a few miles west to collect the cash.

There are scores of nursing vacancies in Brighton and Hove. The health care trust is doing its best to recruit them with imaginative schemes.

But the best thing that could happen is for the city and East Sussex to be included in the bonus system.

Even though national Government is about to be suspended for several weeks because of the General Election, it would simply take an edict from Whitehall to make the change. It must be done.