The number of swimmers who drown off the coast of Sussex each summer has more than tripled since 2000.

Figures produced by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) show an alarming rise in the number of people being washed out to sea.

In 2000, five people died in the sea. In 2002, that figure rose to 16.

Provisional figures show there were at least another 13 drownings in June, July and August last year.

RoSPA has organised a conference in Brighton next month in an effort to identify reasons for the escalation in deaths.

Delegates at the conference will include people responsible for inland waters, beaches and swimming pools who will discuss what went wrong and what worked during the sunny spell.

The rise in drownings is limited to the summer months and RoSPA says this shows hot weather tempts people to take unnecessary risks.

Spokeswoman Karen Blanchette said: "It is disappointing people are ignoring safety warnings and are still diving into the sea off the pier.

"We know of drownings in this area and we fear further tragedies could be repeated this summer."

Regular warnings from police, coastguards and harbour staff have failed to stop people risking their lives by hurling themselves over the edge at Brighton Marina or into the sea from the Palace Pier.

In the summer, rescuers pulled the body of a London man from the sea in Hove and an 18-year-old from a canal in Rye.

The number of rescues is also a cause for concern.

Although Brighton and Hove City Council has not been able to provide figures, coastguards and lifeguards regularly save people who have tried to swim in heavy currents.

One of RoSPA's aims will be to try to get inside the minds of thrill-seekers who deliberately endanger their lives.

Peter Cornall, head of water and leisure at the city council, said: "We have now had time to reflect on the problems of last summer.

"As well as the high number of deaths there appeared to be an increase in the number of rescues and lost children.

"It was an extremely busy period for site operators and we all need to learn lessons from their experiences.

"With hotter summers forecast, action needs to be taken now."

None of the staff at the Palace Pier is trained as a lifeguard and they are under instructions not to go in after anyone who jumps off.

The Noble Organisation, which runs the pier, was unavailable for comment yesterday but a spokeswoman for the council said: "All the council can do as part of our Safety On The Beach campaign is issue warnings to people, which our lifeguards do."

The conference - Preventing Tragedies: Lessons Learned - will be held at the Hilton Brighton West Pier Hotel on March 29 and 30.

To book, or for more information, call 0870 7772120, email events@rospa.com or visit www.rospa.com/water/