Police have said a drive to crack down on hard drugs in Brighton and Hove has made a big impact in disrupting the drugs scene.

A three-month campaign resulted in the arrests of 19 people for offences including possession, supplying and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

More than 100 officers targeted Regency Square in Brighton and Brunswick Square in Hove and other seafront areas.

They netted 390 grammes of cocaine, 8,417 grammes of crack cocaine, 5,891 grammes of heroin, 226 grammes of amphetamine, 378 grammes of cannabis and 28 ecstacy tablets.

The crackdown, part of a national campaign to close drug dens and disrupt local drug markets, was followed by Operation Columbia.

Finishing last month, this operation focused on drug supply in Brighton's Elm Grove area and led to eight arrests.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Bartlett said: "Since the conclusion of the operations complaints of drug dealing have fallen and intelligence has shown the arrests have had a marked effect on drug dealing in the city.

"They have also shown a major impact on burglary, shoplifting, robbery and vehicle crime as the vast amount of these crimes are committed by people funding their drug habits.

"These operations were an intensive crackdown but the public should be assured our fight against drugs is an on-going operation."

During the operations, police community support officers put up posters of the Rat On A Rat campaign in drugs hot spot areas, concentrating on the squares and the Lower Esplanade on the seafront.

Anyone who wants to Rat On A Rat should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.