Householders in East Sussex face one of the biggest council tax increases in the UK.

The rise of 19.6% on the county council share of the bill will mean an average band D resident will have to pay �930 compared to �777 last year when the authority had one of the lowest increases.

The Conservative-run council has blamed the huge rise on changes in the way government grants are handed out.

Councillors say millions of pounds have been taken away from the South East and given to the Midlands and the North.

It is central government that is to blame for this horrendous situation Daphne Bagshawe. East Sussex County Council deputy leader

Council leaders say the increase in East Sussex, which was agreed on Tuesday, will pay for a standstill budget.

Councillor Daphne Bagshawe, deputy council leader, said: "I certainly did not want to impose anything like this increase on the people of East Sussex but we have been forced into this situation by central government.

"We have been arguing our case for a fairer deal with them for months.

"The government said it wanted to make the system 'fairer and simpler'. How can it be fairer to give East Sussex - one of the poorest counties - the second worst settlement of any county in the whole country?"

"Last year we introduced the lowest council tax increase in the UK. This year, the only way we can protect vital services such as support for schools and care for the elderly is to bring in one of the highest.

"It is central government that is to blame for this horrendous situation."