HARROWING footage shows the moment a robber pointed a handgun at a shopworker before making off with £500.

Police investigating the robbery at Elm Stores in Hangleton, Hove, have released CCTV of the robbery itself.

The masked man threatened a young woman behind the till with what appears to be a handgun.

The attack happened at about 8.30pm on Wednesday, September 16, while the 20-year-old English language student was alone.

After she handed over cash, the robber left on foot in an unknown direction. The woman was shaken but unhurt.

He left on foot down a footpath leading to Hove Cemetery and Knoll Park.

A search was made and a tracker dog helped officers recover items of clothing discarded by the fleeing thief.

He is described as white, 5ft 9in, between 18 and 21 years old, with light brown hair and green eyes.

He was wearing a dark grey zip-up hooded top and dark blue sports trousers and the lower half of his face was masked, possibly with a roll-neck top, according to testimony to The Argus the following day.

Detective Sergeant Chris Lane of Brighton CID, said: "This was an unnerving but fortunately rare incident, and no one was hurt.

"It is not clear if the gun involved was real or fake, but we're making every effort to trace the offender.

"From the route taken by the offender when he left, we think he may be local to the area, and we'd like to talk to anyone who saw anything suspicious, or who may just have been in the Elm Drive area at the relevant time last night.

"The trousers he was wearing appear maroon in the CCTV although the victim described them as blue.

"Having discarded some of his clothing he may have been walking about as if nothing had happened, and we'd like to know who was around and who might have been seen."

Anyone with information is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or phone 101, quoting serial 1364 of 16/09.

Alternatively please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You do not have to leave your name.

Note: The CCTV footage appears as 19.32 hours but there was a fault and the robbery actually happened at 8.30pm. Also, in last week's story, we said the gun used was a "shotgun-style weapon", based on shop staff interviews with The Argus. We will now use the term "handgun".

Update: Someone has now been arrested