Council tax in Crawley is to rise by an inflation-busting 12 per cent next year, it was confirmed last night.

Crawley Borough Council agreed the increase after a heated debate.

The rise means the borough's share of the total tax bill will go up by £13 a year for a band C property, to £125.44.

When the bill for West Sussex County Council and Sussex Police Authority is added in the average homeowner in Crawley will have to fork out £831.92 a year.

Council leader Chris Redmayne said the budget would maintain current services as well as funding a kerbside recycling scheme.

He said: "It is about providing the services people want and need at a price they can afford.

"In reality it is 25p a week on a band C property."

But the Conservative opposition was angry at the increase. They wantede a seven per cent rise.

Coun Robert Lanzer, deputy leader of the Conservatives, said: "It is plainly excessive when inflation is at 0.9 per cent. It is just an insult."

*In a separate meeting last night Horsham District Council agreed an increase of 8.1 per cent.