A shop assistant was threatened with a knife during a terrifying robbery but bravely refused to hand over any money and chased them out the store.

A thief wearing walked into the Premier convenience store in Sackville Road in Hove wearing a black motorcycle helmet and yellow high visibility jacket at about 10.15pm on Wednesday.

The offender threatened the shop assistant with a knife but the worker refused to open the till and set off the store's alarm.

The thief desperately filled a bag with bottles of alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco and then ran out the back of the shop and into Conway Place and then Coleridge Street with the assistant in pursuit.

The thief is described as 5' 8" to 6' and of medium build.

Detective Constable Sophie Tullett said: "We would like to speak to anyone who was in the Sackville Road area near the Premier store when the robbery happened.

"If you saw or heard anything, recognise the description of the thief or saw someone acting suspiciously outside the store before the robbery, please get in touch."

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting serial 1505 of 11/12, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk.