Criminals with a history of targeting foreign students visiting East Sussex are being sent warning letters by police.

Nine people in Eastbourne have received hand-delivered letters from officers warning them of the consequences should they reoffend.

A further 23 who have been made subject of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) will receive letters in the coming weeks.

The offensive is part of Operation Columbus, a Sussex-wide response to offences on foreign schoolchildren, who visit Eastbourne in their thousands every year.

Their visits are lucrative for the town's economy and police are determined to protect them when they arrive between now and August.

Chief Inspector Pete Mills, Eastbourne's district police commander, said: "Persistent offenders will be targeted and we will be seeking ASBOs for those who continue to offend."

In addition to the letters, a CCTV van will be deployed to give officers greater flexibility across the borough.

An additional support team of seven officers will be deployed on bicycles during the summer evenings to respond to any incidents involving foreign students.

Last year, officers on bikes carried out hundreds of street interventions and made scores of arrests for a variety of offences.

The operation is being co-ordinated from Eastbourne and in liaison with language schools.