More than 150 jobs could be cut as a council attempts to save almost £8 million.

Brighton and Hove City Council has announced proposals to slash positions in all departments in its budget for next year.

A total of 160 posts are earmarked to go and more could be added, with the Children and Young People's Trust responsible for schools and youth social care yet to announce how it will find £1.9 million in savings.

At present the adult social care department is worst affected with 51 positions under threat followed by the culture and enterprise directorate, where 34 jobs will go.

The council's Conservative leaders announced the budget saying the moves were necessary in a package of "efficiency savings" designed to deliver their election promise of a record low tax increase of 2.5%.

Council leader Mary Mears said: "We understand the pressures many of the city’s residents are under at the moment and that is why we have responded by proposing the city’s lowest ever council tax increase.

“Imposing tight limits on our spending and a laser-like focus on delivering value for money have enabled us to balance the books without hitting the council taxpayer in the pocket."

Speaking from Lisbon, where she was yesterday on a cruise holiday, Coun Mears added that the cuts were in line with previous years and predicted the number of redundancies would be lower than initial forecasts because some would find other jobs within the council.

She said: "Having to lay off any staff is always a difficult decision."