Sussex Police seized a record 20,000 rocks of crack cocaine worth almost half a million pounds. A total of 171 people were arrested in the force's biggest blitz on dealers.

Operation Sceptre, launched last April, has resulted in a 62 per cent increase in arrests, most of them in Brighton and Hove, although dealers have been picked up in every corner of the county.

In his progress report today Chief Constable Ken Jones said: "Crack cocaine poses the biggest threat to communities in Sussex.

"We will be relentless in our pursuit of dealers who bring misery and suffering to all."

In addition to crack cocaine, police have recovered four kilos of cocaine. The seizures and arrests are seen as significant and disruptive but one drugs officer admitted: "As soon as we take one dealer off the streets, another takes his place."

In the past ten months police have mounted a string of operations targeting drug routes.

More than 100 officers were involved in the largest single operation so far in Brighton and Hove just before Christmas.

Stop checks were made at all road and rail points into the city to prevent dealers entering.

In total, 25 people were arrested and more than £70,000 worth of drugs, including one kilo of amphetamine, one kilo of cocaine and crack cocaine were confiscated.

Mr Jones said much of the recent action had been funded by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships under the Communities Against Drugs Initiative. He said: "More is planned."