A VIGILANTE set off in pursuit of a man believed to have keyed cars in the early hours.

Police were called to the scene in the Crown Road area of Hove shortly after 3am.

A force spokesman said: "We responded to reports of a vehicle being keyed in Crown Road, Hove, at 3.02am.

"A witness, a member of the public, pursued the subject but lost him.

"Police picked up the witness and drove around the area, finding and arresting the suspect. The arrest was made at 3.14am, on suspicion of criminal damage.

"Police are investigating whether or not this arrest is linked to previous incidents (of car damage in the area)."

The arrest comes just days after the force launched an appeal for information on the whereabouts of a man suspected of causing damage to cars in the South Portslade area.

They released CCTV footage of a person believed to be responsible for keying cars on the night of August 23, a night when several vehicles were damaged.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the force hoped to interview the man "about a recent series of damage to parked cars in the South Portslade area".