Villagers in one of the wealthiest areas of Sussex are paying for private security patrols.

The schemes are funded by householders who no longer trust the police to defend their homes.

About 15 residents in the villages of Brightling and Dallington, near Heathfield, are paying £1,000 a month for night-time checks by guards in plain clothes and unmarked cars.

They said they were forced to make the move after there were six recent break-ins.

Since the patrols started there have been no further incidents.

One Dallington resident, who did not want to be named, said: "A year ago there was a rash of burglaries. Some people were done twice in a fortnight. Since we hired the security, the spate of aggressive burglaries has stopped.

"The burglaries were happening at four or five in the morning and the police would take at least 25 minutes to arrive.

"Calling 999 at 5am is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. By hiring security, we got the response time down to five or ten minutes."

In the 12 months to March 2004, Brightling and Dallington suffered 22 burglaries.

Since the introduction of the patrols, a year ago, this has fallen to 13.

Nicola Magill, treasurer for Brightling's village hall, said: "There is crime around here and you have to be vigilant.

"In Dallington they had a big problem because police were unable to respond quickly enough from the station in Battle."

The industry estimates there are at least 50 private security schemes in the South-East and the number is growing.

There is no clear evidence the patrols cut crime. Security firms claim dramatic successes but admit the criminals have probably only moved.

Critics say areas which can afford guards are mostly those with low crime.

From next year, private security guards must obtain a licence.

But Ministers hope a rise in police numbers to record levels and the recruitment of thousands of civilian support officers, will reassure the public.

Hastings and Rother Superintendent Ken Taylor said: "We fully sympathise and understand the trials residents have gone through.

"However, we dispute that police have failed to respond to the problems."

Warren Franklin, Sussex Police inspector for Battle and Rye, said: "People are free to pay for security but Battle and Rye are safe places to live and crime rates have been signifantly reduced in the past year."