The Liberal Democrats are fighting to increase their majority in Eastbourne today and stave off the threat from the Tories.

Polling stations opened this morning for local elections which will determine who represents voters at grass-roots level.

The Lib Dems hold a majority of just three and Tories see Eastbourne as a top target after losing control last year.

Among the major issues likely to influence voting patterns in Eastbourne, and in boroughs throughout East Sussex, is council tax rises.

Householders in Eastbourne have been hit with a colossal 38 per cent increase in their bills, the fourth-highest rise in England.

Band D residents are facing four-figure bills for the first time and with low-income families in the resort, the rises will bite hard.

Tory MP Nigel Waterson warned the Commons this week of "palpable anger" over the increase in a Tory-initiated debate on community services.

The Lib Dems have argued that inflicting such an increase was beyond their control because Whitehall had handed them a harsh grant settlement.

They say vital services were under threat from savage cuts had they not passed on the large tax rise.

They also pointed out that the lion's share of the increase was down to council bosses having to appoint a replacement refuse contractor, Sita UK.

And they have urged people in Eastbourne and across East Sussex to unite in lobbying the Government to avoid a repeat, or even worse, next year.

A total of 33 candidates from five parties will contest nine seats in the nine wards.

Lib Dems hold 15 seats while the Tories have 12. No other parties hold seats. Labour, the Greens and the UK Independence Party all failed to win places last year.

Lib Dems are confident of increasing their slight majority, with their sights fixed on stealing a Tory seat in Sovereign ward.

Tory stalwart Sheila Charlton, who lost her seat last year, stands again in a bid to regain her seat in St Anthony's ward.

At Hampden Park Community Centre in Brodrick Road this morning, a trickle of voters passed through to cast their vote.

Ron Howard, 62, of Maywood Avenue, Hampden Park, said: "The council tax rise was the last straw for me really. I've voted Tory this time."