Five more people have been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred at a Sussex bonfire celebration.

Police have now arrested a total of nine people after launching an investigation into the controversial event at Firle, near Lewes, on October 25.

A police spokesman said they planned to arrest a tenth by the end of today and expected to have arrested 12 by the end of the week.

Three people were arrested yesterday, questioned and bailed until January while two men were arrested this morning.

Four had been questioned and bailed on Monday.

A caravan with a fake number plate reading P1KEY and containing effigies of gypsies was set alight during the celebrations.

The caravan also had images of gypsies, including children, painted on the side.

Painted on the vehicle, which was towed through streets before being burnt, was: "Do as you likey Driveways Ltd - guaranteed to rip you off".

Firle Bonfire Society chairman Richard Gravett last week met police officers for "informal discussions" on the display.

After the meeting, the society issued an "unreserved" apology to "anyone who was offended by the event" and insisted it had not meant to be racist.

Organisers claimed they were following a Bonfire Night tradition of burning effigies of things that had been troubling the local community.

But they were strongly criticised by families who attended the event, as well as by the Commission for Racial Equality.

Lewes district councillor Andrew Small, who made a speech before the caravan was torched, later resigned from the Liberal Democrats but remains a councillor.

Police are to send a file on the incident to the Crown Prosecution Service which will decide on any charges.