Hundreds of jobs will be axed as councils across Sussex are forced to cut their budgets.

One of the worst affected, West Sussex County Council, has already asked staff to take voluntary redundancy and said it will take “significant” job cuts to save £50 million.

Local authorities across the county have been forced to choose between cutting services or staff as they prepare for an expected reduction in Government funding.

Redundancies are also possible at East Sussex County Council as bosses look to shave 10% from its budget between 2011 and 2014.

Arun District Council have also admitted that they are searching for ways to save 15% from its next two annual budgets.

Brighton and Hove City Council, who said they did not know much they would need to save, said they had no plans to make any redundancies.

West Sussex County Council council chief executive Mark Hammond said the exact number of redundancies needed to shave 10% off its budget would be announced soon.

He said: “A significant part of the £50 million saving we need to make will come from jobs.

“We are already asking for people to consider voluntary redundancies.

“We don't know exactly how many redundancies there will have to be.

“We are hoping to make the savings through voluntary redundancies, but we can never rule out compulsory redundancies.

“We have to reduce our spending to balance council tax and the demands on services.

“But we want to do that as far as we possibly can by improving our services.

“For example, if we provide access to our services online or through the contact centre it can be more convenient for residents and cheaper for us to provide.”

West Sussex County Council has cut 400 posts in the last three years, but only six jobs were axed through compulsory redundancies.

Since last November they have put together a £500,000 package to help residents and businesses through the recession, including setting up a credit union and providing extra support for Citizens’ Advice debt counselling.

Paul Dendle, in charge of Arun District Council’s finances said: “We have to be more efficient as a council and deliver more for less.

“As a result of this there will have to be some sort of reduction in overall staff numbers.”

East Sussex County Council said their budget was set until next year, but they expect to have to 10% savings in the three years from 2010/11.

A spokesman said: “We can't give any guarantees, but through careful planning we hope to avoid compulsory redundancies next year.”

“The prognosis for public finances is grim over the short and longer term.

“Assuming a new spending review covers the period from 2011 to 2014, the sensible strategy would be to assume some reductions in grant as the worst case over that period."