Shocked parents of fashion-conscious pupils at Hailsham Community College are forking out an average of £500 for prom night.

Stylish students are demanding designer dresses, make-overs and a limo to arrive in at Battle Road to celebrate the end of school.

Now hard-up parents are having to save up to make sure their teenager is the belle - or best boy - of the ball.

One Hailsham mum has already been told by her 13-year-old daughter to start putting money aside now as she expects the bill for her prom in two years to top £2,000.

The mum, who doesn't want to be named to protect her daughter's blushes, told Hailsham People: 'Prom night is all the girls in Hailsham school talk about for years beforehand and my girl wants the best of everything.

'She's determined to look the best, and have the biggest limo money can buy. I know it's ridiculous but I dont want to disappoint her, so we're going to sacrifice our family holiday to save for her prom night.'

Another Hailsham mum has had to reign in the family budget to buy her 16-year-old daughter a designer dress and heels for the June prom.

The woman, who has another teenage daughter at the school, said: 'I'd budgeted for a £50 dress when we went shopping but that wasn't good enough.

'My daughter insisted on trying on a frock at the most exclusive boutique in Eastbourne and fell in love with one costing £540.

'I couldn't believe the price. It looked amazing but there was no way I could afford that. In the end she agreed to have one that cost £230.

'Then she wanted matching shoes, handbag, a tiara, her nails done, her hair put up at a top salon, and a make-up artist on the day.

'She and her friends are also having a limo, which costs more than £200. It's such a lot of money, but it's about keeping up with their friends.

'I can't let my daughter turn up looking like some second-class prom queen. So I've just stopped going out and we're eating a few more beans on toasts to pay for it all.'

Boys are no better. They're insisting on top-of-the-range suits, shoes, designer aftershave and a corsage for their prom date.

'Even those cost around £40 and it's become a bit of a competition,' said another mum, who refused to be named in case her son was teased. 'The more you like the girl, the better the corsage. It's all got out of hand.

'Prom night was meant to all be about celebrating the end of school life, not about becoming models on a catwalk. But the kids all want to outdo each other and us parents don't want to let our children down, otherwise they'd never forgive us.

'It's the event on the school social calendar and we've all got to make sure our children keep up with the rest. And that means giving them the best and going without ourselves.'