A SHOP assistant has been left shaken after a man armed with a handgun held up a convenience store.

A man wearing a motorbike helmet entered the Portland Convenience Store in Portland Road, Hove, at just after 11.53pm last night (Sunday January 31).

He brandished a small handgun at the member of staff and demanded cash from the till.

The gunman grabbed between £150 and £200 from the till and then also took the cashier's wallet and mobile phone.

He walked out of the shop and headed towards Hogarth Road.

The victim was not hurt but shaken.

The suspect is described as wearing a black helmet with a silver or light coloured design on the top and a green or grey Parka style jacket with distinctive buckles across the front.

Detective Sergeant Julie Greenwood, of Sussex Police, said: "We are appealing to a man, a regular customer at the store, who bought some alcohol at 11.50pm and may have seen the offender outside the store.

"We urge him to come forward. We believe the offender was wearing a distinctive jacket and anyone who has information to get in touch."

Witnesses or anyone with information should contact Sussex Police by emailing 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or ring 101 quoting serial 1440 of January 31.