Sophisticated printers and computers are being used to flood Brighton and Hove with forged bank notes.

Police found a wad of dud fivers when they stopped a suspect in Lewes Road, Brighton.

The man told officers: "You must be looking for these." He then brought out a bundle of forgeries from his pocket.

Officers later searched his home in Brighton and discovered hundreds more and a haul of bootleg tobacco.

The notes have been sent to the National Counterfeit Office in London for examination. A 44-year-old man was arrested and later released on bail pending further inquiries by Brighton and Hove police and Customs and Excise investigators.

Earlier, in an unrelated incident, police arrested two men after more forgeries were discovered.

Sergeant Steve Curry spotted suspects in Ditchling Road, Brighton, and found one of them in possession of cannabis.

He checked the man's wallet and found six crumpled £10 notes, each with the same serial number.

Computers and printers were seized at their address along with images of £10 notes.

The arrests were part of Operation Robust, which is aimed at cutting crime in an area of the city where most villains operate. Of the 600 daily crimes in the city, 40 per cent are in the area bound by The Level, London Road, Lewes Road, the A270, Hanover, Queen's Park and the Bates Estate.

All types of crime have been cut since the launch of the operation last month.

Chief Inspector Pete Mills, in charge of Robust, urged the public to call with information on suspects.