FOR its diverse array of citizens, Sussex has its fair share of distinct groups of people - the tribes that make up our colourful county.

Historically, Lewes has had its bonfire societies since the 1700s, becoming distinct factions that compete year after year to create the best firework celebrations.

The county town also has ties to paganism, a movement that is alive and well in Sussex.

Kevin Carlyon, the high priest of British white witches, based in Hastings estimates nearly 20,000 people in Sussex alone identified themselves as pagans.

The 54-year-old also said Hastings had become the occult capital of the UK with many attempting to follow in the footsteps of renowned occultists Aleister Crowley and Alex Sanders.

Crowley, dubbed the wickedest man in the world, died in Hastings in 1947 but the council would not allow him to be cremated there.

Two of the more famous groups to have attracted controversy were the mods and rockers, who clashed on Brighton seafront in 1964.

Adam LeRoy, who runs mod shop Jump The Gun in Sydney Street, Brighton, said: "Brighton has become a focal point for mods worldwide.

"It has put Sussex on the map globally. Brighton has become the home of mods, partly because of the original clashes and the film Quadrophenia.

"If you were a tourist and were interested, you would head to Brighton."

Not just consigned to our heritage, Mr LeRoy added: "Young people have picked up a bit on the Britpop movement and mod has become more mainstream now. It's not as tribal anymore, and that's the beauty of it."

As well as the mods there were the beatniks, the free spirits of the early 1960s, who, as historian David Rowland remembers, "used to be able to thrive on tins of baked beans".

Nowadays, there are a wider plethora of tribes - even if they are less well-defined.

Aside from the stand-out bearded hipsters - complete with tattoos and hats - there are the yummy mummies, (suave young mothers) the never-never-landers (those who refuse to grow up) and the DFLs (down-from-London professionals).