Councillors in Worthing have set their budget for the coming year at £13.56 million.

It means council taxpayers will be hit by an 8.5 per cent increase in their borough council bills from April. But when West Sussex County Council and Sussex Police's demands are added, the rise will be 18.5 per cent.

The borough council has injected £325,000 from its reserves to stop an even greater increase in the run-up to the local elections this spring.

Borough treasurer Colin Smith, in his final budget before retirement, said Worthing had only small reserves in comparison with many other councils.

He said: "While total revenue reserves in a year's time will total no more than £2.36 million, ten years ago the figure was equally modest.

"The authority has grown used to cutting its cloth accordingly and has done so successfully.

"Providing the council remains prudent, the level of reserves should prove adequate.

"The annual preparation of the budget is a massive exercise involving the co-operation of countless officers in all departments of the council.

"On a personal note, I would like to record my thanks to those who have helped achieve this target so successfully."