Three men have been arrested on suspicion of stealing metal from the site of a new swimming pool.

Police were called to the Aquarena in Brighton Road, Brighton, at about 11pm last night.

A force spokesman said a group tried to take away a quantity of copper from the site of £17 million development.

He added: “A 42-year old man of no fixed address, a 22-year old Shoreham man and a 16-year old boy from Sompting are currently in custody for interview and further enquiries."

PC Nick Bartlett, of Sussex Police’s West Sussex Response Team, said: “Cracking job by PC Glen McArthur who arrived first on scene single crewed, spotted the males making off and detained them until other units arrived at his location.”