POLICE cordoned off a street and businesses were told to shut up shop after reports of a robbery.

Business owners and shoppers were moved away from East Street in Brighton while officers investigated the incident at around 5pm on Saturday.

Staff at shop Bison Beer said they were told to shut shop while armed police came into the area and other witnesses reported seeing at least five police cars on the scene.

The area was closed off for about an hour.

Yesterday a police spokesman said officers were initially called to reports of an assault in one of the flats.

He said: "Police were told men attended the address and subsequently assaulted the person within.

"For the safety of members of the public during a busy time part of the road was closed off. Officers attended the scene and checked the area was safe."

He said a man sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Police could not provide any more detail last night.

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call 101 quoting 1055 of Saturday, November 28.