Crime in Burgess Hill fell by more than ten per cent last year, according to the latest figures from Sussex Police.

The force says the town is one of the safest places to live in the county.

Inspector Geoff Thomas, of Burgess Hill police, said: "The year has seen a really favourable movement in virtually every priority area.

"When Burgess Hill is compared with the rest of the county we have done exceptionally well."

Overall crime dropped by 10.4 per cent from April 2001 to March 2002 when 10,377 crimes were recorded.

Mr Thomas said: "This does not mean we can rest on our laurels.

"The reality is you can't stop for breath and we have to continue to drive things downwards."

The most common serious crime in Mid Sussex was burglary and Mr Thomas said the southern villages, including Ditchling, were particularly vulnerable.

He said: "In the vast majority of these cases the burglars come from Brighton.

"It isn't an easy job because we spend hours and hours watching for the right vehicle and once in a while we do trap them."

He said one repeat offender had recently been caught the day after he was released from prison and had now been sent back to jail.

Divisional commander Superintendent Mark Streater said: "Weald Division was the best performing division last year.

"Violent crime was down ten per cent and those crimes that were committed were almost exclusively young man on young man coming out of the pub on a Friday and Saturday night."

Anne Jones, vice-chairman of the Burgess Hill Police Community Forum, said: "It is good news and I know the crime figures have dropped because of the hard work of our local police.

"We have got good policemen and tough policemen who understand the social issues. They know the area and they know who to look out for."