Police have arrested two men suspected of being involved in badger baiting.

Officers who raided a house found dogs with injuries they said could have been caused by the illegal sport, in which organisers pit badgers against dogs.

Inspector Mark Piper, of Sussex Police, said officers had swooped on a home in the Ashington area, near Storrington.

He said: "We have recovered some dogs and are investigating whether injuries we found on them are consistent with fighting."

Police also revealed three badger setts in the Ashington area had been dug up in recent months and several dogs reported stolen.

Ian James, chairman of the Mid Sussex Badger Protection Group, said:

"We have already found a dead cub at one of the setts.

"Badger baiting is a thoroughly brutal sport.

"It's hard to believe that this kind of thing goes on in the 21st Century."

During the fights, badgers are pitted against dogs and bets are placed on, for example, which dog will be bitten first.

Mr James said: "People spend the evening tormenting the animals.

"Badgers have the fiercest bite of any animal of their size.

"They often have their tail or feet nailed to the floor to even up the fight."

Mr James encouraged people walking their dogs to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.

He said: "We would urge people to look for setts and notice if anything changes."

RSPCA spokeswoman Klare Kennett said: "Inspectors regularly get calls about badger baiting and we know fighting goes on.

"It's extremely barbaric. The badgers are literally torn to pieces and the dogs are often left with horrific injuries.

"One of the problems is that the dogs aren't taken to vets in case they find out about the fighting.

"Owners try to treat the dogs themselves and can't so they are just left injured."

The men, both in their 30s, were arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals and were released on bail to return to Crawley police station next month.

Police are also looking for a green J-registration Land Rover which has been seen close to sites where setts have been dug up.