Cyclists in Brighton are being warned to protect their bikes against gangs of thieves who flood into the city every summer.

Last July, 139 bikes worth nearly £50,000 were stolen from the city centre.

Police are warning riders to make sure their bikes are secure during the summer months, particularly if leaving them in hotspots targeted by thieves such as the seafront, Churchill Square and the Palace Pier area.

Sergeant Richard Delacour, of Brighton central sector, said: "Bike thefts accounted for seven per cent of all recorded crime in the central sector. Last summer we believed it was a small group who was responsible as we caught them trying to get rid of the bikes at their outlet."

Mr Delacour urged people to use good quality locks and mark their bikes with serial numbers and post codes. They should also consider marking them with 'smart water', an ultra-violet mark which can later help identify stolen goods.