Animal carcasses and pools of faeces greeted RSPCA inspectors investigating allegations of neglect at a house in Seaford.

In the hallway of the property, a dead cat lay on a row of cages filled with exotic rodents.

Elsewhere in the house were 16 other dead pets, many hidden in cages alongside living creatures.

In total, 134 animals were discovered, including rare creatures usually only found in zoos like sugar gliders, spiny mice, Pallas' squirrels and maras, a type of giant guinea pig.

The shocking case was one of 2,534 complaints investigated by the RSPCA in Sussex last year, according to new figures released today.

The statistics show Sussex is convicting more people for animal cruelty than anywhere else in the South-East.

Inspectors in the county secured 103 convictions, compared to 34 in Kent and 32 in Essex. The number of animals collected totalled 3,793 and there were 151 rescues.

The owner of the Seaford house, security guard Ute Siewert, was among those banned for life from keeping animals.

Siewert was found guilty of 18 charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals at Brighton Magistrates Court in December. She was ordered to pay £12,830 in compensation and £8,812 in costs.

Chief RSPCA inspector for Sussex Carroll Lamport said he would never forget what he found at Siewert's house in October last year.

He said: "It was appalling. None of the cages had water and there were dead and dying animals mixed with those which were still alive. We carried away two bags full of carcasses.

"The kitchen floor was covered with excrement and the stench of ammonia from the urine was so strong I was concerned about the health of my colleagues. It was a horrific experience and all I wanted to do was get the animals out of there as quickly as possible."

Mr Lamport is pleased with last year's success but said there was still a lot of work to do.

He said: "One of the reasons the figures for Sussex are so good is the public have been very vigilant.

"But despite our success, we are still keen to hear from anybody who thinks animal neglect may be going on."

About 25 of the animals rescued from Siewert's house are being cared for at Plumpton College, near Lewes.

The others, including a dog and six cats, have been rehomed.