Thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes have been taken off Sussex streets in recent years, new statistics reveal.

Data from across the county found that over 5,000 vapes had been seized in the region since 2021, nearly all of which were taken last year.

A Freedom of Information request also uncovered that over 80,000 packs of cigarettes had been confiscated from around Sussex since 2014.

Statistics for the county’s cigarette seizures peaked in East and West Sussex in 2018, where 24,089 cigarette packs were seized in East Sussex alone.

Illegal vapes have become a hot topic in recent years as disposable vapes such as elf bars have rocketed in use.

Over 3,000 illegal vapes were seized in East Sussex in 2022 according to the FOI by Vape Club.

In the year to date, just 555 illegal vapes had been taken across Sussex.

Similarly, just under 7,000 packets of cigarettes had been seized in the county since the beginning of the year.

Despite responding to the Freedom of Information request, Brighton and Hove City Council said that no illegal vapes had ever been seized by the local authority.

The council previously said: "Illicit vapes can contain dangerous chemicals like lead, tin and nickel or contain harmful cannabis THC chemicals.

"High levels of inhaled lead damage central nervous system and brain development, especially if inhaled by a child or a young person."