A total of 127 reports of domestic violence were made in just one day over the festive period, more than doubling the average for the rest of the year.

Sussex Police received an average of 73 calls a day over Christmas and New Year, including 127 on New Year's Day, compared to the normal daily average of 63 calls.

Officers said increase occurred with people drinking more and problems surfacing within families as they spent more time together.

From December 20 to January 1 the force dedicated patrols from Operation Cranberry to tackle the issue.

Officers went out equipped with body-worn video cameras to help secure vital evidence as a part of the force's year-round campaign to encourage reporting of such incidents.

Cranberry units responded to 979 incident calls across Sussex, resulting in 257 specific crime reports of various kinds, ranging from assault to harassment.

The incident call numbers ranged from 61 on December 21 to 127 on New Year's Day. The Sunday before Christmas and Christmas Day were the next highest with 75 and 85 respectively.

Detective Inspector Stuart Hale, from the force's Protecting Vulnerable People branch, said it was the fifth year running they had operated the force-wide patrols.

He said: “The increase in incident reporting over the past year has also been particularly noticeable, and we think it may be due at least in part to the fact that we are actively campaigning, with partner agencies, to raise awareness of this issue and the support available to vulnerable people in dealing with it.

“We want people to be confident in contacting us for advice and assistance, and we see the figures as evidence that our efforts are beginning to pay off.”

A new domestic abuse drop-in surgery is being opened in Hove.

The service will run from January 22 at the customer centre at Hove Town Hall, every Wednesday morning between 9am and 12 noon.

It is being provided by Sussex Police and RISE, the Brighton and Hove domestic abuse charity, with the support of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Women and men of all ages will be able to access expert information and advice from Sussex Police staff and RISE volunteers.

For advice and support, and for further about the Talk To Me campaign focusing on domestic abuse, visit www.sussex.police.uk or call 101 or 01273 470101. To join in the Twitter debate, use #talktous.

These organisations also offer help: