Council tax bills in the Lewes district will rise by an average of £64.19 in the coming year.

The overall figure for an average Band D house will be £1,020.35, a rise of 6.7 per cent - more than twice the inflation rate.

Council bosses said this was a smaller increase than last year.

The majority of the £1.23 average weekly increase is swallowed up by East Sussex County Council, with 69p going towards services such as education and roads.

Sussex Police Authority will take 21p, while Lewes District Council's share is 31p.

District council leader Ann de Vecchi said: "We are now looking ahead to council priorities for 2002 to 2003, including our new kerbside waste collection and recycling service, due to start in the coming year."

She said the council was also developing its e-government facilities to make its services more accessible over the internet.

Parish councils have finalised their own charges, which are added to the bill.

The most expensive in the district is Falmer, at £80.14 for the year. In Streat, near Lewes, the demand is just £3.02.