Police are stepping up the fight against rural crime with a series of action days following a £50,000 boost.

Uniformed officers in Mid Sussex will spend more time on the beat as part of weekly crackdowns on crime and dealing with local issues.

The move comes after Sussex Police's Weald Division, which covers Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and the outlying villages, applied to the Government and won £51,600 from the Rural Crime Fighting Fund.

Part of the cash will pay for officers to increase their hours concentrating on problems which affect people's quality of life such as youth disorder, parking offences and speeding.

It is hoped the 'days of action' in country areas will echo the success of Burgess Hill police's current drive against weekend crime, disorder and violence in the town centre, called Operation Showman.

The initiative has cut the number of assaults in the town since it was launched in August after a spate of vicious attacks, one of which left four people needing hospital treatment.

Sgt Chris Ball, of Burgess Hill Police, said: "These days of action will be on a weekly basis and on different days and times and will last for at least six months.

"The idea is for the public to see more uniform officers on the beat, targeting the issues that will affect the quality of life of residents."