Divers have still been jumping off the Palace Pier in Brighton after a man broke a leg plunging into the sea.

Police warned children and adults they were dicing with death but officers were ignored and verbally abused.

The injured man was heard screaming "I've broken my leg" as he floundered in agony, clinging to the pier structure.

He was hauled from the water and taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

On Sunday evening, a teenager needed treatment for facial injuries as he and others hit the shingle beneath the waves.

A police spokesman said: "They are playing Russian roulette with their lives."

There are numerous injuries every year and in 1997 a 24-year-old died when he jumped from the pier.

Mark Walker, from Kemp Town, Brighton, landed in just 4ft of water. He suffered multiple injuries and was found floating face down.

As temperatures hit the Eighties yesterday, youths laughed and dared each other, ignoring warning signs on the pier.

Brighton and Hove City Council has looked at introducing a bylaw to ban diving but a spokeswoman said: "Even if we had the staff to police the area, there is no way of enforcing such a bylaw. It would just be ignored."

A pier spokeswoman said: "We have warning signs up everywhere but people still do it. We do as much as we can but we can't stop them jumping."

Police and lifeguards have urged people not to dive but they have been ignored and jeered at.

One lifeguard said: "We went over to tell them of the dangers but all we got was abuse."

Inspector Julie Wakeford, of Brighton and Hove police, said seafront patrol officers would be paying more attention to the area to repeat the warnings.

She said: "People who jump have got to realise how dangerous it is.

"They could easily suffer horrific injuries and end up crippled or worse.

"I would urge parents to talk to their children and ensure they are playing safe."