West Sussex householders will pay an extra 9.7 per cent when their tax bills arrive in April, councillors have confirmed.

The average Band D tax will go up by £64.17 to £724.95 as a result of decisions taken by the county council yesterday.

Labour councillors had called for an extra £2.29 to be added to the Band D bill to pay for increased subsidies for public transport.

They claimed people were being caused hardship by cuts in bus services.

The move was rejected by the Tories as was a Lib Dem bid to alter the budget proposals to switch more money into social services and public transport without raising council tax beyond the 9.7 per cent.

Group leader Nick Rodgers of Worthing urged the council to pull the plug on £1 million which is due to be spent during the next year on the rubbish plant at Halewick Lane, Sompting.

The Government has told the county council it cannot keep it open as a permanent facility.

Cabinet member for resources Coun Colin Waller said he did not expect the tax rise to be well received by the public but maintained that government policies were responsible for a large part of it.

He said: "I am sure all members could point to areas of pressure that would benefit from more investment but I believe the budget strikes a reasonable balance."