Members of a Sussex drugs dynasty have been ordered to give up more than £1.3 million they made from supplying heroin.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall ruled the father and son of the Compton family profited from drug trafficking and must now sell property and assets bought through their dealings or spend longer in prison.

The cash will go to government funds to be used to boost the fight against hard drugs.

The ruling has been hailed as a major victory in the war against dealers who peddle death and misery on the streets of Brighton and Hove.

Judge Scott-Gall made confiscation orders totalling £1,307,386 against Ronald Compton and his son Sean when they appeared at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

He said: "I am wholly satisfied this was the proceeds of drug trafficking."

Detective Constable Dave West, who led an 18-month investigation in the family's finances, said: "This gives a very clear message to dealers that they will not profit from the sale of hard drugs."

The Comptons now face selling properties which include a house in Chatsworth Road, Brighton, worth £400,000, and two in Lansdowne Place, Hove, worth more than £350,000 each, to meet their debts.

Ronald Compton and his sons supplied heroin and cannabis but claimed their money came from legitimate property, antiques, jewellery and other businesses.

The prosecution said the Comptons used the money to buy properties, which they rented out.

The money they made was laundered through their firm, Comptons of Brighton Ltd.

The empire crashed after drug squad officers raided their homes in 1999, seizing heroin and cannabis.

They also discovered £170,000 in cash, most of it badly contaminated by heroin.

Ronald Compton, 59, of The Brow, Woodingdean, was jailed for seven years after admitting possessing heroin with intent to supply at Hove Crown Court last year.

Sean Compton, 29, of Tongdean Road, Brighton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and was jailed for four and a half years.

His brother, Robert Compton, 37, of Drove Crescent, Portslade, was jailed for six years for conspiracy to supply heroin.

Eldest brother Ronald Compton junior, 40, was given an eight-year sentence for possessing heroin and cannabis with intent to supply.

An investigation into the family's finances was ordered under the Drugs Trafficking Act to determine how much they made from their trade.

Mr West said: "I am very pleased with the result.

"Part of the money will come back to Sussex Police for use in drugs investigations."