CCTV and intelligence gathering will be used to target the drugs menace using £360,000 of Government cash.

Worthing is to receive £91,000 a year for three years to disrupt the supply of drugs in the town.

Another £29,000 will be provided each year to pay for administration costs.

Initiatives such as CCTV in known trouble spots like pub car parks and others to tackle street dealers and their suppliers can now go ahead.

The money will also fund projects to keep drug addicts off the streets and lower the cost of drug-related crime.

Mike Rumble, Worthing's community safety officer, said: "Drugs disrupt lives and this initiative will allow us to bring forward plans to make a real impact on disrupting local drugs markets.

"Whilst the drug problem in Worthing is not as bad as some towns on the South Coast, we aim to send out a clear message that drug dealing will not be tolerated here and we will implement a number of practical measures aimed at driving out drugs from Worthing.

"Drug users commit burglaries and shoplift to feed their habit and the money will be initially used to disrupt these activities and make local drug dealers' lives as difficult as possible."

"As far as we know, it's not a major problem at the moment, but I suppose the extent of the problem may not be known. We may well find out it's more rife than we thought."

The Community Safety Partnership is a body made up of police in Worthing, the West Sussex Drugs Action Team as well as the borough council.

Councillor Richard Bell, chair of Worthing's environmental services committee said: "This is excellent news for Worthing and a welcome boost to the Community Safety Partnership.

"Since its inception a couple of years ago, the partnership has demonstrated that working together can result in positive action in the community. This funding will go a long way towards addressing a very serious problem."

The money is expected to be made available in the next couple of months.

Mr Rumble added: "It's beginning to emerge that the crime and disorder partnerships are doing valuable work and extra resources will help improve it and really start making a difference."

The largest share of the money in the South East is going to Brighton and Hove, which will get £239,200 a year, with £3.6 million being spent across Sussex over three years.