Scores of CCTV images of suspected bike thieves have been released by police.

The suspects are pictured at train stations across the county at the time when cycles were stolen.

British Transport Police have issued an appeal to speak to the men.

In the past five months nearly 500 reports of bicycle thefts were made to police in Brighton and Hove alone.

Inspector Bill Whitehead said: “There has been a rise in this type of crime in the city since the success of Sir Bradley Wiggins and the rest of the British cycling team at the Olympics.

“More and more people are cycling and leaving their bikes in public places.

“Cycles these days can cost more than £1,000. We need their owners to take more responsibility for protecting them.”

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PC Billy Burstow said: “Sadly bicycles are a popular target for thieves but there are lots of things people can do to make sure their property is adequately marked and secured.

“It’s important to remember to register your bike and ensure a solid lock is used to secure it.

“If a bike is adequately marked, it makes it much easier to identify and therefore helps reduce the risk of becoming a victim of bike theft.

“BTP officers regularly conduct cycle crime awareness surgeries at stations across Sussex to offer crime prevention advice and identify the top locations for bike theft, targeting them through covert and overt policing operations to catch would-be offenders in the act.

“We will continue to work closely with train operating companies to tackle cycle crime.”

Police advised cyclists to get their bike tagged and registered at www.bikeregister.com.