Sussex Police are likely to ground the force helicopter on New Year's Eve in case it falls victim to the millennium bug.

The force is as worried as some airlines about vital systems like air traffic control, and is likely to keep the machine on terra firma.

Insp Cliff Gale, in charge of the Shoreham-based unit, said: "It is something we have got to consider.

"We may keep flying until 11.45pm on New Year's Eve and stay grounded for half an hour to 12.15am on New Year's Day, just to be on the safe side."

By then the force will be flying a new £3 million McDonnell Douglas Explorer which replaces the old German-made Bolkow next month.

The American machine comes with a year 2000 safety certificate but the force will not take chances.

Insp Gale said: "It isn't the machine so much, it's the air traffic control and other systems that we have to think about."

With no helicopter, the force will be without its crucial eye in the sky on what could be its busiest night ever. But villains hoping to take advantage of the situation can think again.

All police leave has been cancelled and more patrols will be on the streets than ever before.

Sussex Police millennium plans include dealing with the possibility of a major disaster happening in every town in the county, caused by systems failures at places like discos and at traffic lights.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.