The Mayor of Worthing will roll up to civic functions in a rented car after Daewoo repossessed the one they had provided free.

Councillors have given the green light to a proposal to fork out almost £400 a month to rent a vehicle.

The move follows Daewoo's repossession of the mayor's free luxury car.

The company offered to sell the Leganza to the council but councillors thought the asking price was "rather high."

Instead, mayor Valerie Sutton will arrive at functions in a Volvo 940 saloon rented from local firm Pavilion until the council decides its next move.

Council leader Brian Lynn said: "I don't know what all the fuss is about. The mayor has to have a car and that is that. Look at the mayor in Brighton and Hove - they have a nice car.

"We will only be renting a car for three months until we decide what to do. We would like to get another sponsored one if possible."

The Daewoo Leganza was provided free when the Korean car firm had a factory in Worthing at Lyons Farm.

But there was criticism of the council and former mayor Ann Lynn when Daewoo pulled out of the town with the loss of hundreds of jobs.

Peter Collington, head of executive services, said Daewoo wanted the Leganza back by March 8.

The council has £2,280 in the budget to spend on mayoral transport.

Meanwhile, residents were coming to terms with the new council tax demands, which mean an average Band D taxpayer must pay £937.26 next year, compared with the present £849.51.