DRUG dealers as young as 13 have been picked up by police in Sussex.

New figures show teenagers have been caught trying to sell class A drugs while children as young as 11 have been caught with them in their possession.

Figures obtained by The Argus show that 20 children under 16 have been arrested by Sussex Police for possession with intent to supply class A drugs since 2012 including eight in Brighton with a further 25 youngsters arrested for possession.

Another 34 youngsters were picked up for dealing class B drugs and 216 for possession.

A recent report by the National Crime Agency found that organised criminals were luring younger children into the cannabis trade.

The report also revealed that urban street gangs from big cities were taking control of local markets in coastal towns and coercing children and vulnerable adults to assist with accommodation and supply.

Mike Pattinson, from social care and health charity change, grow, live which runs West Sussex’s young people’s drug and alcohol wellbeing service, said: “Most of the kids charged with possession would be getting drugs from older friends and relatives and passing them on to friends.

“I don’t think it will be gang-related in Sussex in the way it is portrayed in The Wire.

“There are vulnerable people in the youth justice system who would be known to people and who could be vulnerable to exploitation and encouraged to try and sell drugs to their friends.”

Detective sergeant Julian Deans, part of Brighton organised crime team, said: "Thankfully the number of young people using and supplying drugs is relatively low.

"We work hard to target those who deal drugs in the city and anyone trying to use young people in this way.

"We know gangs have used young people, but I have not heard of children under 16 being used in this way, but thankfully on a small scale and we are always working hard to make Sussex a no-go place for drugs."