Mid Sussex District Council has agreed to purchase two commercial buildings to generate new rental income.

The £5m deal will see the council purchase the freehold of two warehouses, one of which is already occupied by Halfords.

The second building is currently empty but the council is already in negotiations with a gym operator to take over the lease.

Cllr Judy Llewellyn-Burke, deputy leader of the council, said: 'The income we receive from Council Tax only covers around one third of the cost of providing Council services in Mid Sussex so we must generate the additional income ourselves with investments like this one.

She added: 'Our long-term goal is to be 100% financially self-sufficient so, no matter what happens at national government level, we will have secure funding streams in place to deliver our services for local people.'