A PASSERBY tried to trip up a robber making his getaway. 

The thief demanded money and produced a bag in the Costcutter store, telling a shop assistant there was a gun inside while smoking a cigarette.  When he was given cash from the till he ran out of the shop, in Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings between 8.15pm and 8.30pm on Sunday. 

As he left a passerby tried to trip him up in the street, kicking him in the shin in an attempt to stop him. But he escaped. 

The robber is described as slim, white, in his late teens or early twenties, and wearing dark baggy clothing with the hood up. The top he wore had a logo on the left side of the chest. 

No gun was seen during the incident and no-one was hurt. 

Detective constable Julian Stokes said: "We would like to hear from anyone who saw this man or has any other information, and we are particularly keen to trace a member of the public who tried to trip the robber up as he made his escape."

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 1029 of 15/01.