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Police investigating the deaths of 25 cats in Brighton have arrested a 52-year-old man following a "breakthrough" in a lengthy probe.

The man was detained by police who obtained CCTV following the death of a cat that was found seriously injured in the East Sussex city on Saturday.

The arrest follows a Sussex Police investigation during the past 18 months into at least 25 cats who have been killed or seriously injured in the city.

A force spokesman said: "Sussex Police have arrested a local man in connection with cat deaths in Brighton following a breakthrough in a longstanding investigation.

"Officers were made aware that a cat had been injured near Trafalgar Street, Brighton on Saturday evening. The cat had sustained serious wounds and has unfortunately since died.

"The investigation response quickly located and secured CCTV footage of the area.

"This was viewed and a local 52-year-old man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He has been released on police bail until June 28."

Detective Inspector Chris Thompson said: "We were made aware of a cat death and officers conducted a quick-time investigation to establish the circumstances.

(Image: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures)

"The arrested man has been released on police bail while enquiries are continuing.

"We are keen to trace a witness who we believe may hold vital information to our investigation.

"He is a white man, around 5ft 8ins, in his 20s or 30s, of medium build, with long dark wavy hair and was wearing sunglasses at the time.

"We believe he may have stroked the cat before it was injured around 7.50pm on Saturday, June 1.

(Image: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures)

"If this is you please make contact with us."

Mr Thompson continued: "We understand how distressing the deaths of these cats have been to both owners and organisations concerned with animal welfare and we are determined to establish what has happened to them in order to get answers for owners.

"Police resources have been used in the wider investigation in an attempt to establish exactly what has happened to these cats and we are working in partnership with an expert from the Royal Veterinary College to establish the cause of the deaths.

"We increased patrols in and around the areas that the cats have been injured or died, there have been house to house enquiries, we've viewed CCTV, taken statements from the owners and anyone who has found an injured or dead cat and continue to speak with anyone who has come forward with information about these incidents."

The investigation and arrest in Brighton comes after the Metropolitan Police closed a probe into more than 400 cat deaths across London and the home counties attributed to the so-called Croydon Cat Killer.

The Met said that there was no evidence of a crime and put the deaths down to vehicle collisions and attacks by wild animals.